Integrating Sustainable Hunting in Biodiversity Protection in Central Africa: Hot Spots, Weak Spots, and Strong Spots

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112367
• Publication Date: 2014-11-05T19:28:04Z
• Authors: Julia E. Fa; Jesús Olivero; Miguel Ángel Farfán; Ana Luz Márquez; Juan Mario Vargas; Raimundo Real; Robert Nasi
• Keywords: Bushmeat; Umbrella species; Tropical rain forest; Spots

Wild animals are a primary source of protein (bushmeat) for people living in or near tropical forests. Ideally, the effect bushmeat harvests should be monitored closely by making regular estimates offtake rate and size stock available exploitation. However, practice, this is possible very few situations because it requires both these aspects to readily measurable, even best case, entails considerable time effort. As alternative, study, we use high-resolution, environmental favorability models terrestrial mammals (N = 165) Central Africa map areas high species richness (hot spots) hunting susceptibility. Favorability distinguish localities with conditions that favor species' existence from those detrimental characteristics its presence. We develop an index assessing Potential Hunting Sustainability (PHS) each based on their ecological (population density, habitat breadth, rarity vulnerability), weighted according restrictive permissive assumptions how combined. Species classified into five main sustainability classes using fuzzy logic. Using accumulated values all species, PHS values, finally identify weak spots, defined as diversity regions especial vulnerability wildlife, well strong potential. Our study uses relatively simple employ easily obtainable data assess impacts regions. It provides information management charting geography where more less likely at risk extinction hunting.