Managing Forest Wildlife for Human Livelihoods in the Korup-Oban Hills region, West Central Africa. A multi-agent systems model to assess socia-economic and ecological sustainability

The primary objective of the study is to develop effective and practical community-based wildlife management (CWM) systems for the Korup-Oban Hills region, by assessing the conditions under which bushmeat extraction can be ecologically, socially and economically sustainable. In addition, it is our intent to examine the role that different land-use systems can have in landscape-level wildlife management and conservation (complementing the existing network of protected areas). Multi-agent systems modelling (MAS) To be developed with local participation, the MAS will serve as the main tool of the project for testing the social, economic and ecological sustainability of wildlife management scenarios proposed by local communities. It will take into consideration multiple parameters affecting the quality of rural livelihood (population dynamics, economics, local assets, infrastructure, access to services, food security, vulnerability to seasonal changes, policies, and local culture). Field Research Although data for some sociological parameters considered by MAS will be extracted from existing government and NGO reports, additional data will be collected via interviews and surveys of local stakeholders. In addition, biological data for selected wildlife species (targeted by the bushmeat trade; i.e. duikers, large rodents) will be collected via recce walks and transect surveys. Involvement of local actors Locals will participate in all stages of the project, from the development of the wildlife management scenarios to be tested in MAS to the final testing of selected models.