2026 - Adounke et al.
Systematic review of sustainability assessment approaches for wildlife exploitation: Uncovering limitations in tackling the bushmeat crisis
Systematic review of sustainability assessment approaches for wildlife exploitation: Uncovering limitations in tackling the bushmeat crisis
This article presents a systematic review of 125 studies evaluating approaches to assess the sustainability of wildlife harvesting, including fisheries, recreational hunting, and bushmeat hunting. The authors identified 15 primary methods, categorized into index-based and model-based approaches. Their statistical analysis revealed that species reproductive strategies (particularly fast-reproducing, r-strategist species) and the type of exploitation (with a strong dominance of fisheries) significantly influence sustainability outcomes. Bushmeat studies, especially in Africa, are methodologically limited and often focus on a restricted number of species, such as duikers and monkeys. The authors call for multifaceted assessments that integrate advanced technologies, alongside long-term policies to better manage the bushmeat crisis in Africa.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111606