1. The Bushmeat Crisis Task Force Presented to: Forum on Forestry and Natural Resources Issues in Africa National Conservation Training Center Shepherdstown, West Virginia 24 February 2003 Heather E. Eves, Director Bushmeat Crisis Task Force Silver Spring, MD © BCTF 2000-2003

2. What Is Bushmeat? Bushmeat is meat that is illegally, commercially or unsustainably derived from wildlife including: –Illegal methods of hunting (snares, unregistered guns) –Illegal species (endangered, threatened, or otherwise protected) –Taken from unauthorized areas –At unsustainable levels whether for commercial trade or non- commercial trade © H Noss

3. Why Is There a Bushmeat Crisis? Today, uncontrolled access to wildlife, rising demand, lack of economic alternatives, absence of substitutes, and minimal capacity to enforce laws have resulted in an unsustainable, illegal, commercial, trade in wildlife across Africa and the globe. © RG Ruggiero

4. Bushmeat: A Global Problem Bushmeat is a global problem with dramatic levels of operation in Sub Saharan Africa In East Africa, bushmeat is often consumed during times of economic hardship, drought or when the need for “fast cash” arises 30 million consumers in Central Africa consume ~ 2.5 million metric tons of meat annually Asia and Latin America © H Noss

5. Global Human Health 2002 and 2003 Ebola outbreak among gorillas in Congo; 2001 Ebola outbreak in Gabon and Republic of Congo linked to gorillas; Wolfe et al (2000) reports that diversity of microbes and vertebrates in lowland tropical forests puts bushmeat hunters at great risk of EIDs Links between SIVs and HIV and high infection rate among 26 species of primates commonly eaten in bushmeat trade. Ebola virus

6. Bushmeat is a Band-Aid The commercialization of bushmeat is a temporary solution to numerous problems caused by external driving forces. Dealing with those causal factors immediately will be the only solution for both wildlife and human communities. © RG Ruggiero

7. The Bushmeat Crisis Task Force The Bushmeat Crisis Task Force A collection of organizations and experts committed to addressing this crisis for the sake of future generations of Africans and wildlife.

8. BCTF MISSION To build a public, professional and government constituency aimed at identifying and supporting solutions that effectively respond to the bushmeat crisis in Africa and around the world. Established 1999 Based at AZA offices in Washington, DC area 34 Supporting and Contributing Member Organizations 11 member expert Steering Committee 3 full-time staff plus interns, consultants, and volunteers Network includes 300+ global experts representing development, conservation, education, media, government, private sector and donor community

9. BCTF GOALS Work with Members to focus attention on the bushmeat issue in Africa; Establish an information database and mechanisms for information sharing on the bushmeat issue; Facilitate engagement of African partners and stakeholders in addressing the bushmeat issue; Promote collaborative decision- making, fund-raising, and action among Members and partners of BCTF © RG Ruggiero

10. BCTF Works with Many Partners Ape Alliance – UK Bristol Zoo Gardens - UK Bushmeat Crisis Action Group – Oakland Zoo Canadian Great Ape Alliance Canadian Association for Bushmeat Awareness – Toronto Zoo CEC-BCTF Bushmeat Resource Guide Project CITES Bushmeat Working Group Conservation Breeding Specialist Group European Association of Zoos and Aquaria EU Bushmeat Campaign FAO Bushmeat Action Plan Great Apes Survival Project (GrASP) IUCN Central Africa Bushmeat Program Pan African Sanctuary Alliance & PAAZAB UK Tropical Forest Forum US Government Agencies Wildlife Colleges in Africa World Bank CEO Africa Working Group Hundreds of individuals and dozens of professional associations, educational institutions, media professionals…

11. BCTF Research Archive – thousands of documents and references BCTF Bushmeat Documents BCTF Website: 8000 visitors/month Bushmeat Professionals’ Listserv Hundreds of Information Requests from around the world BQ: Bushmeat Quarterly – news and actions on bushmeat Global Information Center

12. Research Archive Analysis completed and summary documents produced; Project developed for creation of Bushmeat Information Map to include: Bushmeat by country & species Research Archive - bibliography Projects database Protected areas Human population density Logging concessions, other industry and roads Bushmeat Information Map BCTF Bushmeat Information Map

13. Collective Fundraising BCTF has leveraged over $1 million for actions to address the bushmeat crisis. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation USAID US Forest Service US Fish & Wildlife Service Conservation International Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund Jane Goodall Institute World Wildlife Fund, US Wildlife Conservation Society Western lowland gorilla © M. Eaton

14. Over 150 Bushmeat Experts from more than 20 countries established BCTF Action Plan Government, NGO, University, Industry, and Professional Representatives Priority solutions identified National and international media attention generated BCTF Collaborative Action Planning CITES Bushmeat Working Group Members Washington, DC, May 2001

15. BCTF Action Plan Long Term Solutions Policy Development Education Sustainable Financing Protected Areas Short Term Solutions Media/Public Awareness Alternative Income and Protein Market Seller/Hunter Associations -- Control Linkages with Industry

16. Key Decision Makers & Policy Development CITES Bushmeat Working Group CBD Bushmeat Liaison Group IUCN Bushmeat Resolution Resolution drafted by BCTF Priority for IUCN Central African Program Office US Government Great Ape Conservation Act USFS Gabon Logging Workshop Department of State - CBFP US Fish & Wildlife Service US Congress Members of CITES Bushmeat Working Group in Washington, DC, May 2001

17. Congressional Actions on Bushmeat Provided information to support the Great Ape Conservation Act Congressional Hearing: 11 July 2002 in Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans Senate interest in preparing statement about the bushmeat crisis.

18. CITES Bushmeat Working Group Policy and legislation review – harmonization Public Awareness Campaign Monitoring bushmeat trade activities Review of wildlife authority management structures Wildlife Management in Logging Concessions

19. Raising US Public Awareness Capitol Hill Event, May 2000 National Press Club, May 2001 Congressional Hearing, July 2002 Media attention BCTF hosts Capitol Hill Event with Dr. Jane Goodall, May 2000 Associated Press Scientific American National Geographic US News & World Report Christian Science Monitor Washington Post Newsday BBC Newsweek Reuters Forbes

20. Public Awareness in Africa Building an education database of ongoing efforts in Africa Developing a project for training African journalists Facilitating linkages between groups engaged in public education and awareness –CITES Bushmeat Working Group –Pan African Sanctuary Alliance –AZA Member Institutions –PAAZAB Zoos

21. Encouraging individuals in the US, Europe and Africa, to make a commitment to personal responsibility regarding the bushmeat trade Individuals commit to a variety of actions and report back to BCTF when actions have been fulfilled –Committing to sustainable living –Educating themselves –Supporting appropriate policies & legislation –Donating time/money to support field projects The Bushmeat Promise

22. Capacity Building & Education African Regional Wildlife Colleges Curriculum development Data gathering and analysis AZA Conservation Education Committee Education Resource Guide for U.S. institutions Cooperation with African zoos and sanctuaries University of Maryland Problem Solvers Course Central African bushmeat experts gather at Garoua Wildlife College, Cameroon to develop bushmeat training curriculum

23. University of Maryland 17 Graduate Students worked in 5 teams for 4 months: BCTF External Review Income and Protein Alternatives Key Decision Makers Public Awareness Sustainability UMD Problem Solvers Graduate Students worked with BCTF for one semester to address critical questions and provide recommendations.

24. Future Directions Protected Areas World Parks Congress BIMAP Alternatives Development Agencies Agriculture Organizations Linkages with Industry CEO World Bank Group Camrail Pipeline Market Seller and Hunter Associations © RG Ruggiero

25. Will people be the only animals left in the forest? © WWF

26. BCTF Steering Committee Host Institution: Michael Hutchins, AZA Animal Protection: Christine Wolf, FFA; Kelvin Alie, IFAW Ecosystem Conservation: Liz Bennett –WCS; Russ Mittermeier – CI; Richard Carroll – WWFUS; Katie Frohardt – AWF Species Conservation: Janette Wallis – ASP; Christina Ellis – JGI Zoos and Museums: Reg Hoyt – Phil. Zoo; Rebecca Rose – Columbus; Kristen Lukas – Cleveland; Anne Warner – Oakland At Large: David Wilkie – WCS; Tony Mokombo – WWF; Rebecca Hardin – Montreal; Samuel Fopa – BCDG; Kenneth Cameron – Cincinnati; Brian Rutledge; Dieter Steklis – DFGFI; Tony Rose – BI; J. Bryan Carroll – BZG-UK.

27. African Wildlife Foundation American Zoo and Aquarium Association American Society of Primatologists Center for Applied Biodiversity Science - Conservation International Chicago Zoological Society-Brookfield Zoo Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Conservation and Recycling at the Tulsa Zoo (CARATZ)* Dallas Zoo Detroit Zoological Park Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund Folsom Children’s Zoo & Botanical Garden* The Fund For Animals Happy Hollow Corporation/Happy Hollow Zoo Humane Society of the United States Houston Zoo International Fund for Animal Welfare The Jane Goodall Institute Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens Louisville Zoological Garden Oklahoma City Zoo Oakland Zoo Philadelphia Zoo Saint Louis Zoo San Antonio Zoological Garden and Aquarium Sedgwick County Zoo Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society World Wildlife Fund, U.S. Zoo Atlanta Zoo New England Zoological Society of San Diego BCTF SUPPORTING AND CONTRIBUTING* MEMBERS