The role of bushmeat in urban household consumption: Insights from Bangui, the capital city of the Central African Republic

Abstract

In the Congo Forest Basin, hunting provides a major source of protein for rural household consumption. In the context of increasing urbanisation, an understanding of bushmeat consumption in urban settings is needed to both address food security issues and design biodiversity conservation strategies. This paper provides insights into bushmeat consumption patterns in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, through an analysis of household expenditures and market prices. A survey of approximately 4,000 households combined with 3 years (2005-2008) of market price monitoring was used to estimate the consumption of bushmeat and alternative proteins. The results showed the presence of a diverse range of animal proteins on the Bangui market, including meat from domestic and wild animals. The taxonomic composition of the bushmeat mainly included common, sedentary wildlife species that are highly resilient to hunting pressure, while protected species were rarely observed. The household consumption survey showed that 54% of daily meals contained beef, 35% contained fish and 19% contained bushmeat. Fish and bushmeat consumption decreased in the rainy season, and caterpillar consumption increased. Smoked proteins (bushmeat, fish), were cheaper than all fresh meat except for caterpillars. The consumption of proteins and bushmeat increased with wealth; fresh proteins were consumed more by wealthy consumers, while smoked bushmeat was consumed by the poorest. Total consumption of protein and bushmeat was highest in rich households, but the relative proportion of bushmeat in the total protein intake was highest for poor households. Overall, the results confirm the importance of bushmeat in the diet of urban consumers, especially in poor households. However, the patterns of consumption suggest that bushmeat is less popular than alternatives, which may potentially limit an increase in bushmeat consumption, particularly if cheaper, alternative meat can be made available.