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 plays an essential role in people’s diets, especially where livestock husbandry and fishing are not feasible options, or to complement livestock when unexpected production drops occur, such as during periods of drought.  

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 global biodiversity. Unsustainable harvesting rates are primarily driven by an increase in demand for wild meat in fast-growing urban centers. Urban dwellers consume wild meat as a luxury item, 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