Bushmeat exploitation and trade is well known to play a vital role in people's livelihoods, both as a source of income and as a source of animal protein in the diet of people. Long term bushmeat studies have shown a significant shift in the exploitation of bushmeat from subsistence in the past to current commercialization of the trade. This has led to increased pressure on wild animal populations that are exploited as bushmeat, raising conservation concerns.

There has also been significant land use changes in Ghana with increased conversion of natural forested landscapes to farmlands and the urbanisation of rural landscapes. More recent market surveys indicate that the bushmeat trade is dominated by generalist species that thrive well in farmlands and landscapes with intermediate disturbance whiles there is a reduction in forest-specialist species; suggesting that the former landscape is more productive than the latter. Some research have suggested that these changes in land use is altering the availability and the dynamics of bushmeat exploitation in Ghana. This is likely to impact the potential of bushmeat contribution to food security in Ghana.

The bushmeat trade in Ghana is well studied, particularly the Kantamanto and Atwemonom markets in Accra and Kumasi, with long term datasets for both markets running back over 20 years. With indications of changes in the exploitation dynamics and trade of bushmeat in Ghana, an update to historical data (which runs to 2004) is necessary to explore these current trends. This will help understand how current dynamics is changing in response to changing land-use and behavioural responses in bushmeat use and exploitation. This is vital to wildlife management and food security in Ghana.

This research in addition to updating historical datasets will answer questions such as:

  1. How does changing land-use patterns impact on bushmeat availability and its contribution to food security?
  2. What are the current trends in bushmeat exploitation in Ghana?
  3. Is bushmeat still a preferred protein source among Ghanaian households and what role does bushmeat play in the dietary protein intake in Ghanaian homes?