Finding a Solution to Game Poaching in the Amazon Rainforest

Rachel Zhang
Writing 60
Professor Charlene Keeler
March 2, 2023
Research Project 2
Advocacy Project: Finding a Solution to Game Poaching in the Amazon Rainforest
Introduction
The game hunting boom of the 1930s-40s in the Amazon rainforest paved the way for disastrous and devastating ecological imbalances identified in the CP. An estimated 23 million animals were killed between 1904 and 1969 for their hides and skins. Exports worth more than US$500 million were made (Peres et al. 1). The practices resulted in biodiversity loss through the decline or extinction of certain species of animals, which can have cascading effects on the rest of the ecosystem. Disruption of ecological balance is another adverse effect. Hunting disrupts the balance of predator and prey relationships, leading to overpopulation of some species and declining in others. Besides, hunting and the trade of wild animals lead to the spread of diseases from animals to humans. The activity also destroys habitat as hunters’ clear land for their activities and disturb ecosystems. It has also affected the livelihoods and cultural practices of indigenous communities who rely on hunting for subsistence. Endangered species are menaced with extinction. Threat to the survival of endangered species, such as jaguars, tapirs, and primates, which are already threatened by habitat destruction and other human activities, continues.
This advocacy project proposes an action plan to reduce or cease hunting in the amazon significantly. The advocacy plan seeks to sensitize the public, trigger policymaking, and have a significant percentage of individuals and groups buy the idea. A seven-step solution s proposed, involving the following: strengthening law enforcement; increasing public awareness; supporting alternative livelihoods; working with local communities; strengthening laws and regulations; collaborating with international bodies; and using technology. Each of these steps is reviewed in the following section of the literature. Further, this project expounds on how each of the plans is executed.
Fig 1: Proposed Action Plan
Literature Review
This literature reviews works discussing the seven steps proposed in this multi-model project. The project reviews the steps taken, the consequences, and the shortcomings, along with recommendations. Legal frameworks have been tried to protect against hunting in the Amazon rainforest. They include criminalizing the practice. For example, the Bolivian government introduced Law 1333 of 1992, which made it illegal to hunt, fish, or capture animals in the forest using explosives. Once found guilty, one was subject to serving three years (Crime 1). Forgotten, forsaken, and ignored laws are some of the challenges facing the conservation of the Amazon rainforest. Harrop (1999) highlights the issue of forgotten laws from the insight of the rules that had been in place before, which needed to be advanced with evolution to improve the forest's biodiversity. Despite lawmakers and scientists acknowledging that the forests are at risk, they take time to implement enforcement. Nonetheless, Kimerling (1991) emphasizes that the law conflicts with or fails to consider or offer alternatives to those whose livelihoods depend entirely on the forest. This results in a conflict of interest.
To some extent, as Harrop (1999) pointed out, political leaders are lethargic about these laws because game poaching comes with incentives in terms of money and political deals. As a result, while game poachers are allowed to run wild, the locals whose life depends on the forest ecosystem face the harshest resolutions by the government. For instance, when a law bans fishing or hunting, it means the local population must find alternative sources of basic needs. As a result, a conflict between governments and local communities is sustained while foreign game poachers continue to wreak havoc.
Significant efforts have been addressed by various scholars on this issue, beginning with museums showcasing pieces of art that address pressing issues such as endangered species in the Amazon rainforest, as explained by Gardoni et al. (2020) and the suffering of local communities as argued by Harrop (1999). The author proposes using augmented reality to provide an interactive experience with the public to demonstrate the adverse effects of human activities that threaten the Amazon Rainforest. Carvalho et al. (2019) discredit law enforcement and finger-change tactics to public awareness as the better solution. Other improvements that Carvalho et al. suggested include improved technologies that would help steer clearing-reduction programs. However, Caravalho et al. still press on law enforcement improvement and educating members of the public on the laws.
With one of the significant challenges being that some residents on the edges of the rainforests have their livelihoods supported entirely by the rainforests, diverting these lifestyles is an uphill task. Novotny (2010) discloses that these dwellers prefer loggers to conservationists because the former allow dwelling places for them. As an alternative and in response to Harrop (1999)’s documentation of local people’s predicament resulting from conservationists efforts, Novotny (2010) proposed educating local communities as a means to entrepreneurship and identification of other sources of livelihood. The aim of this proposal, Novotny argued, was to reduce dependence on the forest ecosystem.
Game poaching in the Amazon forest has seen the development of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is an international treaty that regulates the trade of wild animals and plants, including those found in the Amazon rainforest and other forest reserves (Graham 255). Another previous attempt was by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), which is responsible for enforcing laws related to wildlife protection in the Amazon rainforest (Brito & Paulo 1). IBAMA has the authority to investigate and prosecute cases of illegal poaching, and it conducts regular patrols to prevent poaching and other illegal activities in protected areas. A notable campaign is the "Guardians of Nature" campaign, which was launched in 2013 in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (Bala et al. 20). The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species in the Amazon rainforest, such as the jaguar, the giant otter, and the giant armadillo by using television commercials, billboards, and social media to reach a broad audience.
The attempts proved futile due to corruption and political interference in law enforcement, which undermined efforts to combat illegal poaching. There have been reports of IBAMA officials being involved in illegal activities or turning a blind eye to poaching activities in exchange for bribes (Brito & Paulo 1). It undermines public trust in the ability of law enforcement agencies to protect wildlife in the Amazon rainforest. Again, the criticism for having limited resources, inadequate staffing, and insufficient funding to carry out its responsibilities effectively leaves the Amazon Forest vulnerable to illegal poaching. At the same time, the inadequacy of these organizations and campaigns are central to fuelling local conflicts since they leave behind unfulfilled promises to the local communities. As highlighted by (Bala et al. 22), local communities must also grapple with rising cases of conflict with wild animals.
Solutions that sound great but are probably not feasible may be options for the future, including high-tech surveillance systems to detect and track poaching activities. Another is wildlife relocation programs and possibly military intervention to ensure additional resources and expertise in combating poaching in the Amazon Forest (Singh et al. 5590). The strength of the possible solutions is improved protection. Weaknesses are it is logistically challenging and expensive to transport animals’ long distances, and there may not be suitable habitats available to accommodate large populations of relocated animals other than the Amazon. Surveillance systems may be expensive to operate and maintain on large tracts of forest. And in any case, as posed by (Bala et al. 21), the large amounts that go into state-of-the-art surveillance technology will have more impact if it is channelled to local communities. This is because local communities should be the frontline protectors of the ecosystem in which they live.
Strengthening law enforcement can go a long way in meeting short and long-term goals by providing adequate funding and resources for enforcement agencies such as the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) (Brito & Paulo 1). It can include investing in equipment, training, and personnel to enhance their ability to detect and prevent poaching. Similarly, fines and prison sentences for poachers can be increased, and improving legal frameworks to make it easier to prosecute and convict poachers in the law ...