"Raising poor families out of poverty is a moral imperative,"
said Dr. David Wilkie of the Wildlife Conservation Society, the
lead author of the study. "However, if doing so results in the
depletion of the wildlife that these families rely upon to meet
their daily protein needs, then development assistance may not
only result in a loss of biodiversity. It also may put at risk
the long-term security of these clients of aid--the rural poor.
The study--which was the first to explore the bushmeat issue
across the entire country--was based on surveys conducted in
some 1208 households in six locations across Gabon, collecting
information on meat consumption, socioeconomic status, and
demographic factors. In all instances, the consumption of meat,
including wildlife, fish, chicken and livestock, increased with
wealth, while rising prices resulted in a decrease in
consumption. Growth in the income of poor families resulted in
the largest jumps in bushmeat consumption. The rural poor are
only 16 percent of the Gabones