This document summarizes research on the subsistence harvest of wildlife in Madagascar. It finds that wildlife provides 57% of annual cash income for local households and has an ecosystem service value of $0.42 per hectare. Only 2% of the wildlife harvest is sold commercially. Higher wildlife prices led to reduced consumption, indicating it has value as a form of natural insurance for food and nutrition. Nutritional analyses found that wildlife is important for obtaining key micronutrients and fatty acids, and changes to the environment could impact these dietary sources. The research acknowledges contributions from collaborators and partners in Madagascar.

1. Christopher Golden, PhD, MPH
Harvard School of Public Health (CHGE)
Director, WCS’ HEAL (Health & Ecosystems: Analysis of Linkages)
ATBC 2014
Health and economic valuation of the
subsistence harvest of wildlife in Madagascar

2. HEAL SLIDE
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3. Ecological Transition:
enter the Anthropocene
Intact,
Natural
Environments
Engineered
Infrastructure/
Markets
Increased capital,
Increased inequality
The Poor
Loss of natural insurance:
food, shelter, etc.

4. Conservation as
Public Health Intervention

5. 85% of all flora and fauna in Madagascar is endemic to the country
50% of floral diversity is found in the Makira watershed
Lemurs and all native carnivores are endemic only to Madagascar
Makira Watershed

6. Wildlife as an Ecosystem Service

8. BUSHMEAT AND
ECONOMIES
The bushmeat trade is a local to global market that is
valued at billions of dollars per year

10. Biodiversity Targeted

11. • 7 yrs of panel data from 2 adjacent NPs for more than 650 hh
• Only 2% of wildlife harvest is sold (n=232, from 194 hh)
• Wildlife demand curve
• Two-stage least squares panel data method using IVs

12. • Average ecosystem service value per hectare was $0.42/ha
• 57% of annual cash income (95%CI: 1.3-190.7%)
• Imputed price of wildlife and its consumption were highly
correlated where higher prices led to reduced consumption
• Welfare value (foregone benefits from conservation)
• 2/3 of wildlife is harvested illegally

13. Nutritional Value of Wildlife

14. Global Anemia Prevalence

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16. Nutritional Importance of
Wildlife

17. Nutritional Importance of
Wildlife

18. Wildlife and nutrition

19. Anthropometry & Clinical Work

21. Nutritional Analyses
- Micronutrients (iron, zinc), vitamins (A, B12,
E) and fatty acids (LA/ALA vs EPA/DHA)
- Biomarkers (CRP, AGP, TFR, ferritin)
- Linking diet to status
- Linking environmental change to diet

23. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• the HEAL Consortium
• Matthew Bonds, Justin
Brashares and Claire Kremen
• Dr. Herlyne Ramihantaniarivo
• WCS Madagascar
• Anjaranirina Evelin Gasta