Current Levels, Recent Historical Trends, and Drivers of Wildmeat Trade in the Amazon Tri-Frontier Region Between Colombia, Peru, and Brazil

Abstract

While wildmeat trade in the Amazon has been given increasing attention in the last decade, managers and policy makers are still left without a clear understanding of the trends and the underlying drivers of wildmeat trade and the implications for policy action. In this study, we used a combination of methods, based on participatory approaches involving stakeholders of the trade to understand the drivers, trends, and current levels of wildmeat sales in the Amazon tri-frontier region between Peru, Brazil, and Colombia. We estimated that wildmeat trade might reach 385 tons/year in the towns of the tri-frontier region. The most commercialized species were Cuniculus paca (paca), Tapirus terrestris (tapir), Pecari tajacu (collared peccary), deers (Mazama spp.), and Tayassu pecari (white-lipped peccary). The participants suggest that wildmeat volumes and number of traders have increased since 1995, despite increased law enforcement. Although no changes in species sold are observed, catch per unit effort is thought to have decreased over the years, mainly due to habitat degradation. Traders believe that demand for bushmeat will remain high unless the prices of other preferred meats (such as beef) become competitive.