High-tech participatory monitoring in aid of adaptive hunting management in the Amazon

Van Vliet, N, Sandrin, F, Vanegas, L, L'haridon, L, Fa, JE and Nasi, R (2017) High-tech participatory monitoring in aid of adaptive hunting management in the Amazon. Unasylva, 68 (249). pp. 53-62. ISSN 0041-6436

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Abstract

Given the importance of unsustainable hunting for conservation and livelihoods, the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in 2012, called for the development of appropriate plans for ensuring the sustainable hunting and consumption of bushmeat. Based on this, a phone app is proving popular among Amazonian hunters in monitoring their offtakes, and it shows promise as a hunting management tool. The study tested the use of a smartphone app for the participatory monitoring of hunting in the context of sustainable hunting initiatives. The results show that the app can generate information on hunting on a monthly basis that, in the long run, can be used to inform decision-making The app can generate information on hunting on a monthly basis that, in the long run, can be used to inform decision-making. Hunters perceive smartphones to be easier to use and less time-consuming than paper notebooks, reducing the risk of research fatigue; moreover, there may be more motivation to engage in monitoring over time because the results are readily available to users.