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Dept for International Development

Answer

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact the trade in bushmeat has on the environment in West and Central Africa. [20562] Clare Short: We have not made any specific assessments of the impact the bushmeat trade per se has had on the environment in West and Central Africa. However, we are conscious that the unsustainable escalation in the commercial bushmeat trade is a growing problem that is in large part a result of poverty and is facilitated by the expansion of the forestry and mining industries into natural forest areas. We are aware of the dangers posed to eco-systems by the unregulated expansion of these industries in west and central africa and are concerned to ensure that the long-term interests of poor people in sustainable natural resource management are addressed. DFID is currently working closely with DEFRA and other international, National and Civil Society bodies to address this issue. To this end we are involved in various initiatives that contribute to the conservation of wild animals and their habitats (see Annex 1). Annex 1: Examples of DFID-supported bilateral projects, and research and studies, that have a strong focus on wildlife/bushmeat species _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Name of project Country Period of support £000 Mbomipa Community Wildlife Tanzania 1997-2001 1,973 Project Wildlife Intensification for Namibia 1999-2002 1,040 Livelihood Development (WILD) Madikwe Community Wildlife South Africa 1997-1999 622 Management Amboro Rural Development Bolivia 1996-2000 3,200 Mount Cameroon Project Cameroon 1995-2002 10,602 Community Forest Development Cameroon 1999-2002 1,049 Project Indonesian Multi-Stakeholder Indonesia 1998-2005 25,150 Cross River State Community Nigeria 1996-2001 2,000 Forestry Project Forest Sector Development Project Ghana 2000-04 11,963 Phase II Joint-funding scheme with WWF Gashaka-Gumpti/Kupe Nigeria/Cameroon 1991-2001 \ Coastal forests/Bogoria/Udzungwa Kenya/Tanzania 1990-2001 | 6,289 Kunene/Caprivi Namibia 1998-2001 | Mamiraua/Varzea Brazil 1991-2000 / Studies and research: Livestock-wildlife interactions Africa 1997-2001 \ Illegal hunting in Serengeti NP Tanzania 1997-2000 | 575 Bushmeat in rural livelihoods of Ghana/Cameroon 2000-01 / west Africa _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

376 c745-6W; 20562

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Africa Environment Nature conservation Meat Trade Wildlife Central Africa West Africa

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk