A comprehensive review of trophy hunting research in sub-Saharan Africa has found that the practice can have positive outcomes for conservation and local communities, but its success depends heavily on governance and who benefits from hunting revenues. The study, led by Dr. Hayley Clements, the Oppenheimer-Jamma research chair in African wildlife economies at Stellenbosch University, analyzed over 1,000 research papers and identified 89 that assessed the outcomes of trophy hunting on nature or people in the region. The review, published in Conservation Letters, is the most comprehensive of its kind to date.
The study found that 65% of documented outcomes were positive for conservation and people's well-being, while 26% were negative and 9% were ambiguous. Trophy hunting was associated with an increase in the amount of land under conservation in 92% of cases, and outcomes for income, employment, and food security were positive in at least 85% of cases. However, the picture was more mixed for the animals being hunted, with populations of hunted species more often stable or growing than declining, but other measures such as age and sex ratios more often negatively affected.
The researchers found a strong pattern around who held rights to land and wildlife and who received hunting revenues. Outcomes were positive more than 80% of the time where communities or private landowners had rights to land and wildlife and received hunting revenue. The study cited South Africa as an example, where private landowners can own wildlife on their land and make decisions on how to manage it, resulting in good outcomes for both conservation and people.
The review highlighted significant gaps in the evidence, including the quality of conserved land and non-economic aspects of local people's well-being. The study found that trophy hunting tended to increase the land managed for conservation, especially in contexts where communities benefited, but there were few studies assessing the quality of that conserved land. Similarly, non-economic aspects of local people's well-being, such as culture and sense of place, were poorly understood.
The researchers emphasized the importance of how wildlife-use systems are governed, including who holds rights and responsibilities, who makes decisions, and who receives the benefits. The study's findings point to the need for policymakers to consider the context-specific nature of trophy hunting and its governance. The review's results can inform conservation strategies and policy decisions in Africa.
The study's lead author, Dr. Hayley Clements, noted that public debates about trophy hunting are often driven by ethics and assumptions rather than evidence. The review aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of the complex issues surrounding trophy hunting and its impact on conservation and local communities. The study's findings can help to inform more effective conservation strategies and policy decisions.
The researchers' analysis of trophy hunting's impact on animal populations and local communities provides valuable insights for conservation efforts. The study's results can help to identify areas where trophy hunting can be a viable conservation strategy and where governance and management can be improved.
Key points
- Outcomes depend on how hunting is governed and managed.
- Trophy hunting can have positive outcomes for conservation and local communities.
- Governance and who benefits from hunting revenues are crucial factors in determining the success of trophy hunting.
