The bushmeat trade in northern Ghana: market dynamics, drivers of trade and implications for conservation HANNAH N. K. S AC K E Y ,JAMES MCNAMAR A
E.J. MILNER-GULLAND and YAA NTIAMOA -B AIDU
Abstract Data on species trade profiles and volumes of wild animals on sale in local markets can provide useful insights into the bushmeat trade, enabling identification of priorities for management and conservation planning. Wemonitored bushmeat traded in three markets (Sandema, Chiana and Fumbisi) in the Upper East Region of Ghana during October 2018–October 2019. More than 80% of carcasses sold were amphibians (frogs). Species composition and vo- lumes of bushmeat traded varied significantly across mar- kets. Bushmeat sales were highest during the dry season (75% of total biomass traded). The bulk (60% of total bio- mass) traded in the local markets was transported long dis- tances for resale in major urban markets in southern Ghana. Large-bodied species were comparatively low in number and sold almost exclusively for resale in southern markets. This study highlights the importance of frog meat as an affordable protein source for consumers and as income for traders in an economically deprived region. Seasonal fluctuations of bushmeat sales demonstrated the impor- tance of bushmeat as part of a diversified livelihood strategy for hunters and traders. Furthermore, this study under- scores the significant role that long-distance trade networks play as key drivers of the bushmeat trade in these parts of northern Ghana, and highlights the risks posed by current extraction levels for species conservation in this understud- ied region. Our recommendations include investigating the potential of sustainable amphibian production, improving protection of particular vulnerable species and of the pro- tected areas in the region and exploring alternative liveli- hoods during the peak hunting season.
Keywords Amphibia, bushmeat trade, frogs, Ghana, long- distance trade, market surveys, wildlife conservation
Supplementary material for this article is available at
doi.org/10.1017/S0030605322000096
Introduction
wild animals (commonly termed bushmeat or wildmeat) contributes significantly to food security and people’s livelihoods, especially for the rural poor (Cawthorn & Hoffman, 2015). However, the transition from subsistence to large-scale commercial harvesting has become a serious problem for biodiversity conservation (Abernethy et al., 2013;Wilkie et al., 2016). This challenge is driven by factors such as a growing human population, increased demand, increased accessibility to wild animals because of the ex- pansion of extractive industries and use of modern firearms (Poulsen et al., 2009; Coad et al., 2013; McNamara et al., 2019). In many parts of Africa, particularly in West and Central
T HANNAH N.K. SACKEY* (Corresponding author,
orcid.org/0000-0003-4695-
171X,
haneyshan@yahoo.com) and YAA NTIAMOA-BAIDU*(
orcid.org/0000- 0002-3915-3341) Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research, P.O. Box LG 67, Legon, Accra, Ghana
JAMES MCNAMARA (
orcid.org/0000-0003-1433-9569) Conservation Research Consultants Ltd, South Molton, UK
E.J. MILNER-GULLAND (
orcid.org/0000-0003-0324-2710) Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
*Also at: Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Received 11 May 2021. Revision requested 14 October 2021. Accepted 27 January 2022. First published online 19 September 2022.
Africa, bushmeat markets are common and the business is well-developed (Fa et al., 2015; McNamara et al., 2016). These markets typically serve as important collection points for wild animals harvested from surrounding catchment areas. Patterns of trade flow are often dynamic, with temporal and spatial fluctuations in species composition, volume and price. Data on the profiles and volumes of wild animals on sale in local markets are valuable for assessing the condition and status of fauna in surrounding catchments (Cowlishaw et al., 2005; Dupain et al., 2012; McNamara et al., 2016). Market analyses have been used to provide estimates of extraction, types of wild animals hunted in those areas and the status of the species in the wild (Fa et al., 2015; McNamara et al., 2016). Although the confounding effects of market dynamics may not permit strong conclusions regarding sustainability (Ling & Milner-Gulland, 2006; Waite, 2007), analysis of species trade profiles and volumes can provide useful insights into and broad understanding of bushmeat use and offtake across landscapes (Fa et al., 2015). This can facilitate the identification of key areas for effective management and
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Oryx, 2023, 57(2), 216–227 © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605322000096
he harvesting and trading of wild animals for human consumption are widespread in Africa. Meat from
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