Wild meat

The meat of wild species has long served as a source of protein and income for millions of people throughout the world. In less developed regions, it is an essential part of the diet, especially where livestock husbandry and fishing are not feasible options. When there is an unexpected drop in livestock production or during periods of drought, people will turn to wild meat.

There is increasing evidence that unsustainable hunting is a key factor in current wildlife declines. This threatens the integrity of ecosystems, impacts the food security of vulnerable households and threatens global biodiversity. Unsustainable harvesting rates are primarily driven by the increasing demand for wild meat in fast-growing urban centres. Urban dwellers consume wild meat as a luxury, rather than as a nutritional staple, and they pay higher prices than rural consumers do for the same animal. This encourages hunters in rural villages to hunt more animals to sell in order to increase their income.  

FAO's involvement

Highlights