Community-based population recovery of overexploited Amazonian wildlife

João Vitor Campos-Silva, Carlos A. Peres, André P. Antunes, João Valsecchi, Juarez Pezzuti

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Abstract

The Amazon Basin experienced a pervasive process of resource overexploitation during the 20th-century, which induced severe population declines of many iconic vertebrate species. In addition to biodiversity loss and the ecological consequences of defaunation, food security of local communities was relentlessly threatened because wild meat had a historically pivotal role in protein acquisition by local dwellers. Here we discuss the urgent need to regulate subsistence hunting by Amazonian semi-subsistence local communities, which are far removed from the market and information economy. Following positive examples from community-based management of aquatic and terrestrial resources, we advocate that hunting practices, based on modern scientific principles firmly grounded in population ecology, represent a strong window of opportunity to recover viable populations of previously overexploited wildlife.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)266-270
Number of pages5
JournalPerspectives in Ecology and Conservation
Volume15
Issue number4
Early online date23 Sept 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2017

Keywords

  • Hunting regulation
  • Protected areas
  • Community-based conservation
  • Overexploitation

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