Results & impact 31 October 2024
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- Innovative study unveils simple indicators to measure wildlife degradation in African tropical forests
Innovative study unveils simple indicators to measure wildlife degradation in African tropical forests

A hunter in a Gabonese rainforest - SWM Project © D. Cornélis, CIRAD
Medium- to large-bodied mammals play crucial roles in tropical ecosystems, acting as herbivores, seed dispersers, and predators. However, these species are also prime targets for hunters, leading to significant changes in wildlife communities. The research highlights that overhunting causes predictable shifts, with larger, slow-breeding animals disappearing first, while smaller, more resilient species like rodents become more dominant.
To understand these shifts, the researchers conducted extensive fieldwork in Gabon, using systematic camera trapping and hunter offtake records. They collaborated with 314 hunters from 10 communities, recording data from nearly 13 000 hunting trips. By comparing the wildlife composition in hunted areas with that in protected reference sites, such as Ivindo National Park, the team developed reliable indicators of faunal degradation. This valuable research was funded by the European Union through the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme.
Key indicators for conservation
The study identifies two main indicators that are simple yet powerful tools for monitoring wildlife degradation:
Rodents-to-Ungulates Ratio: This ratio increases significantly in heavily hunted areas, reflecting a higher presence of smaller, more resilient species.
Mean Body Mass of Offtake: This metric decreases as hunting pressure intensifies, indicating a decline in larger species.
These indicators are not only easy to calculate but also practical for implementation through community-led monitoring programmes. They provide valuable insights for conservationists and local communities to track and manage the health of their ecosystems.
Implications for conservation and policy
The findings underscore the importance of involving local communities in wildlife monitoring and management. Hunters, with their deep knowledge of the forest, can play a critical role in gathering data and ensuring sustainable practices. This community-based approach aligns with global conservation goals, such as the Global Biodiversity Framework’s “30×30” target, which aims to protect 30% of the world’s land and water by 2030.
The study's first author, Dr Davy Fonteyn, from CIRAD and the Gembloux Université de Liège, emphasized,
By leveraging the expertise of local communities and using these straightforward indicators, we can make significant strides in conserving wildlife and maintaining ecological balance in tropical forests.
The researcher who coordinated the study, Daniel Cornélis (CIRAD) continues:
This paper presents a novel approach, derived from camera-trap data, to assess the alteration of wildlife assemblages. By integrating camera-trap and hunting offtake data, we established that the most reliable hunting indicators for assessing alteration in wildlife assemblages are also the easiest to calculate! These results offer a promising way of simplifying hunting monitoring, facilitating its adoption by local communities.
Future directions
The researchers advocate for scaling up this approach across other tropical regions, adapting the indicators to different ecological contexts. They also call for the integration of these methods into broader conservation strategies, including the establishment of community-use zones and the protection of large-scale ecological connectivity.
"Involving and empowering local communities helps ensure sustainable wildlife use and underpins all the activities at the SWM Programme sites. The research findings in Gabon have great potential for broader application in similar tropical forest environments", Hubert Boulet, SWM Programme Coordinator, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) comments.
The SWM Programme is a major international initiative that aims to improve the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife in forest, savannah and wetland ecosystems. It is being funded by the European Union with co- funding from the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) and the French Development Agency (AFD). Projects are being piloted and tested with governments and communities in 16 participating countries. The initiative is coordinated by a dynamic consortium of four partners, namely the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
For more information about the SWM Programme, please visit https://swm-programme.info
Reference
Fonteyn, D., Fayolle, A., Fa, J. E., Vanthomme, H., Vigneron, P., Vermeulen, C., Malignat, R., Konradowski, B., Yia Okanabene, M. N., Dibotty-di Moutsing, S. A., Pereira Dias, S., Deniau, C., Cornu, G., Groschêne, M., & Cornélis, D. (2024). Hunting indicators for community-led wildlife management in tropical Africa. npj Biodiversity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-024-00048-4
About the organizations
- CIRAD
CIRAD is the French agricultural research and international cooperation organization working for the sustainable development of tropical and Mediterranean regions.
It works with its partners to build knowledge and solutions for resilient farming systems in a more sustainable, inclusive world. It mobilizes science, innovation and training in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Its expertise supports the entire range of stakeholders, from producers to public policymakers, to foster biodiversity protection, agroecological transitions, food system sustainability, health (of plants, animals and ecosystems), sustainable development of rural territories, and their resilience to climate change. CIRAD works in some fifty countries on every continent, thanks to the expertise of its 1800 staff members, including 1240 scientists, backed by a global network of some 200 partners. It also supports French science diplomacy operations. www.cirad.fr
- Gembloux Université de Liège –Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, FORIL, Unité Gestion des Ressources Forestières, Gembloux, Belgium
Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, a distinguished faculty within the University of Liège, excels in sustainable forest resource management through its renowned Forest Resources Management Unit (FORIL). Located in Gembloux, Belgium, FORIL is dedicated to advancing sustainable forestry practices by integrating ecological, economic, and social research. Our interdisciplinary team focuses on biodiversity conservation, innovative forest management strategies, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the socio-economic impacts of forestry. Committed to global collaboration and education, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech and FORIL strive to influence policies and practices that promote environmental sustainability and benefit local communities.
- CIFOR-ICRAF
CIFOR-ICRAF is an organization formed by the merger of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). The purpose of CIFOR-ICRAF is to address global challenges related to forests, trees, and agroforestry systems. The organization aims to generate and apply knowledge to inform policies and practices that improve the management and conservation of forest landscapes and agroforestry systems. This, in turn, supports sustainable development, enhances livelihoods, and mitigates climate change.
- MMU Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
The Department of Natural Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) is at the forefront of scientific research and education. Located in the heart of Manchester, UK, our department is dedicated to advancing knowledge across a broad spectrum of natural sciences disciplines. Our research initiatives encompass environmental science, biology, chemistry, and physics, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, innovation, and real-world impact. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge facilities, and a commitment to excellence in teaching, MMU's Department of Natural Sciences prepares students to address global challenges and drive future scientific breakthroughs.