What is the Impact of Income on the Demand for Bushmeat?: a study of the relationship between income and bushmeat near the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania

In Sub-Saharan Africa, increasing levels of bushmeat consumption and unsustainable bushmeat hunting have become one of the central concerns of conservationists. Many conservationists have recently begun to see income growth as a possible strategy to decrease wildlife consumption. This study tests whether or not this strategy would be effective near the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Results from both the aggregated and disaggregated demand functions indicate that bushmeat is a necessity in the region, implying that increases in income would lead to less than proportional increases in consumption and suggesting that income growth alone is not a viable conservation strategy. Other food sources in addition to economic activities that could provide both protein and income must be made available in order to reduce the demand for bushmeat.