In the Rupununi savanah in Guyana, Asaph Wilson recalls how his grandfather used to see a lot of deer, a lot of armadillo, a lot of all kinds of animals but now they are gone. Roads, commercial hunting and uncontrolled fires are threatening wildlife of the savanah.
By developing ecotourism and conservation, by planting fruit trees to attract animals, Asaph's village is trying to gain back what was lost and is hoping that they can go back to their great grand-fathers time.
We did put camera traps in this area already. It is for research on wildlife, and it is a breeding area for all animals, fish and birds.
Asaph Wilson, Hunter and conservationist
Millions of people depend on wild meat for food and income. Wild meat is an important source of protein, fat and micronutrients, particularly for indigenous peoples and rural communities in South America, Africa and Asia.
The demand for wild meat is growing, especially in urban areas. If hunting for wild meat is not managed at sustainable levels, then wildlife populations will decline and rural communities will suffer increased food insecurity. Recent studies have shown that overhunting for food is now threatening hundreds of wildlife species with extinction.
Between 2018 and 2024, the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme will improve the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife in forest, savannah and wetland ecosystems. Field projects are being implemented in 13 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.
The aim is to:
- improve how wildlife hunting is regulated
- increase the supply of sustainably produced meat products and farmed fish
- strengthen the management capacities of indigenous and rural communities
- reduce demand for wild meat, particularly in towns and cities.
The SWM Programme is being implemented by a dynamic consortium of partners who are working together with governments and local communities to conserve wildlife and develop a sustainable future. The consortium includes the:
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD)
- Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
- Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
The SWM Programme is an African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States initiative, which is being funded by the European Union with co-funding from the French Global Environment Facility.