Hunting, Fishing, and Ecosystem Functions and Services in the Congo Basin

Résumé fourni par la source

Abstract Hunting and fishing have long been central to the traditions, culture, and livelihoods of rural communities in the Congo Basin, supporting both rural and urban populations. Wildmeat and freshwater fish are key protein and nutrient sources, central to both rural and urban diets, and support informal economies, employment, and traditional medicine. Culturally, they are embedded in ceremonies, prestige, and social cohesion. These activities are governed by a mix of customary and statutory laws, though traditional regulations have weakened over time and national laws, especially for inland fisheries, are often incomplete or outdated. Enforcement is uneven and weakening. Currently, wildmeat harvests, estimated at 1.6–11.8 million tons annually, are dominated by ungulates, rodents, and primates, while fish production, notably in the DRC, reaches about 230,000 t yearly, with high post-harvest losses. Both sectors feed a significant illegal international trade in bushmeat, fish, and exotic pets. Wildlife populations show marked decline from habitat disturbance and overexploitation: large mammals are scarce in hunted areas, replaced by small, resilient species; top predators and key herbivores are reduced; and inland fisheries face shrinking catches, smaller fish sizes, and market-driven pressures. Overhunting disrupts seed dispersal and ecosystem dynamics, while overfishing degrades aquatic biodiversity and habitats, with long-term catch declines of 65–80% threatening food webs and resilience. These losses endanger rural and Indigenous livelihoods, heighten nutritional insecurity, and expose communities to zoonotic disease risks through unsafe wildlife handling. Given the importance of these sectors in the Congo Basin, there is a need for integrated governance and management models that align human needs with ecological sustainability (see chapter 26).

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