Odzala National Park - Human Interaction

Human Interaction

The human population pressure is fairly low in the region; the villages mainly are along the southwestern and northern boundaries of the Park. Nutritionally, the villagers obtain most of their carbohydrates from manioc and banana plantations, and protein from bushmeat. Most of the monetary economy of the villagers who are not directly employed by the conservation project ECOFAC revolves around bushmeat (capture and sale), and to a lesser extent, production and sale of local alcohol. Some collection, use and sale of other forest products (caterpillars, nuts, lianas etc.) is carried out, but economically this is much less important than bushmeat. More recently (post 1996) logging concessions are now active around all sides of the park except the west, and many people have found employment in the timber companies.

The major problems in terms of conservation for the region are elephant poaching (for ivory) and hunting of other animals for the commercial bushmeat trade. Elephant hunting was greatly reduced for a while with the implantation of a conservation project (ECOFAC), due to their antipoaching activities. However due to the rising price of ivory poaching has risen again. In 2011 the African Parks Network took over management of the site.