Pivotal Amazon Study Reveals Wild Meat’s Vital Role In Food Security, Culture And Conservation

29 November 2025, Bangladesh: A groundbreaking scientific study published today in Nature shows that healthy forests are central to sustaining the wild meat food systems that nourish more than 11 million people in rural Amazonia.

Drawing on almost six decades of data from more than 600 communities, researchers demonstrate that wild meat is not only a cornerstone of food and nutrition security, but also a foundation of cultural identity and territorial rights for Indigenous Peoples, traditional communities, and smallholder farmers.

“This study confirms that wild meat is not only a vital source of protein and micronutrients — it is the backbone of food security for millions of Amazonian residents. Protecting forests means protecting nutrition, livelihoods, and cultural heritage.” — André Antunes, lead study author

Covering the full Amazon biome, the research estimates that wild meat harvested in rural areas can supply nearly half of the daily protein and iron requirements of the region’s roughly 11 million rural inhabitants. It also delivers high levels of essential micronutrients—such as zinc and B-complex vitamins—difficult to obtain from the most commonly available domesticated meats.

Endorsed by the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB) and the National Council of Extractivists (CNS), the study is the most comprehensive assessment ever conducted on Amazonian wild meat systems. It documents the consumption of at least 500 species. Twenty of these species account for 72% of all animals hunted and 84% of total biomass extracted—for example, white-lipped peccary, tapir, and paca. Annually, hunting provides an estimated 0.37 million tons of edible wild meat, equivalent to approximately US$2.2 billion if priced against current beef markets—an invisible but invaluable safety net for remote communities.

3 key takeaways:

• Deforestation threatens nutrition and ecosystem resilience: The authors warn that escalating deforestation is destabilizing these systems. In forest landscapes where more than 70% of tree cover has been lost—now spanning around 500,000 km²—the number of animals harvested per hunter declined by 75%. This shift has forced communities to rely more heavily on generalist species such as armadillos, capybaras, and doves, especially close to expanding towns and cities where demand for protein is high.Replacing wild meat with domesticated livestock—often proposed as a conservation solution—would come at enormous environmental and nutritional cost. To provide an equivalent amount of beef, up to 64,000 km² of forest would need to be converted to pasture, releasing as much as 1.16 billion tons of CO₂—around 3% of annual global emissions. Moreover, domestic meats like chicken offer significantly lower iron and zinc levels, potentially driving micronutrient deficiencies among already vulnerable populations.
• Conservation success is rooted in traditional knowledge: Despite high annual harvest volumes, wildlife remains most abundant in Indigenous and traditional territories. The study shows that customary rules and reciprocal relationships with nature have safeguarded animal populations over thousands of years. These governance systems—not prohibition—offer the most effective path to sustaining both species and livelihoods.“Where Indigenous rights are respected and territories protected, the forest and its wildlife flourish,” the authors note. “Efforts to restrict or replace wild meat without understanding this reality risk repeating colonialist mistakes and undermining the autonomy and health of Amazonian peoples.”
• Protecting forests protects people: The findings underscore that conserving Amazonian forests is inseparable from securing human well-being and achieving global sustainability goals. Strengthening community land rights and governance is important to maintain wildlife, protect cultural heritage, and ensure long-term food system resilience.The research contributes directly to advancing multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being, Climate Action, Life on Land, and Reduced Inequalities.’

Long-term sustainability of wild meat food systems will require: 1) locally agreed hunting management frameworks, and 2) culturally embedded practices (e.g. dietary restrictions and avoiding certain areas while hunting) that align with the norms and ethical obligations of rural and Indigenous communities.

QUOTES:

“This study grew out of a close, long-term partnership between researchers and Indigenous and local communities. It is the first large-scale effort to map wild meat hunting across the entire Amazon, revealing just how vital it is to protect and respect Amazonian peoples’ needs and cultures if we want forests to remain alive with a rich, thriving community of animals” — Hani Rocha el Bizri, study author and lead coordinator of the Sustainable Use of Wild Species Transformative Partnership Platform (SU-TPP).

“Studies such as this, which highlight the importance of the use and sustainable management of wildlife for our peoples, are in full alignment with our efforts to preserve the traditional relationship we maintain with nature. The results of this research have the potential to strengthen our debate at national and Amazonian scales, reinforcing the need to protect our territories for the continuity of our sustainable traditional practices, which are essential for the food security and nutritional well-being of our peoples.” — Statement from the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB)

“This research comes at an important time,” said Julia Fa, study co-author and senior research associate at CIFOR-ICRAF. “Countries are still working to develop National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and indicators that align with the Global Biodiversity Framework, respecting the stewardship and well-being of Indigenous and local communities. By revealing the real impact of wild meat hunting for nutritional security, culture and conservation, decision makers are better equipped to govern the Amazon with sustainability in mind.”

Also Read: India’s Horticulture Production Rises to 369 Million Tonnes in 2024–25: Third Advance Estimates

📢 If You’re in Agriculture, Make Sure the Right People Hear Your Story.
From product launches to strategic announcements, Global Agriculture offers unmatched visibility across international agri-business markets. Connect with us at pr@global-agriculture.com to explore editorial and advertising opportunities that reach the right audience, worldwide.