Bushmeat
For centuries the inhabitants of forest villages in the Congo Basin have hunted bushmeat species such as duikers and pigs to supply their daily protein requirements. More recently, the term 'bushmeat crisis' has been used to describe overhunting of wildlife for human consumption.
In the past, the density of the human population was low and hunters used traditional methods such as crossbows, spears, and nets. Many of these hunters were semi-nomadic, and often migrated to different parts of the forest, which resulted in no single zone being exhausted of resources
The increasing urbanisation and installation of industrial camps in formerly remote areas in many African countries means that hunting of wildlife, or bushmeat, has been completely transformed. Urban centers bring an increased market for bushmeat, while the development of logging and roads in previously isolated forests provides a transport network that allows hunters to enter previously inaccessible areas. This has increased the pressure on wildlife populations, and threatens the long term survival of many wildlife species.