Wildlife Conservation in Africa: A Scientific Approach presents comprehensive management strategies for the consumptive and non-consumptive utilization of wildlife across Sub-Saharan Africa. It describes African economies' current dependent on wildlife resources, and prescribes strategies for conserving the biodiversity, both forests and animals, in ecosystems across the continent.
Wildlife Conservation in Africa begins by delving into the history and current status of how Africa's culture, traditions, healthcare, and food sources are woven intricately around the local wildlife and resources. Fragile ecosystems, such as the Sahel and notorious African aridity, create problems for protected area management, leading to minimal resources, ecological destruction, and illegal hunting. The book offers principles and methods for African conservation, including holistic approaches to conserving biodiversity, sustainable uses for human welfare and rural development, and local community involvement to manage socio-economic problems such as poaching and illegal wildlife trading.
Wildlife Conservation in Africa: A Scientific Approach is a necessary resource for researchers and practitioners in wildlife and ecological conservation. This book is also useful for administrators and managers of protected areas for the most comprehensive education on sustaining biodiversity, preventing species extinction, and combating the loss of African ecosystems
Part 1: Introduction
1. Introduction
Part 2: The Importance of Wildlife in the Economies of African States
2. Utilization of Forest Wildlife in West Africa
3. A Comparison of Carcass Composition and Nutritive Value Of Some West African Forest Mammals and Domestic Animals
4. Animal Products in Traditional Medicine
5. Utilization of Tropical Forests and the Future of Wildlife Conservation in West Africa
6. State of Knowledge on Tropical Forest Mammals and Priorities for Research
7. Wildlife Utilization in East and Southern Africa
Part 3: Problems and Strategies of Conservation of Wildlife in Africa
8. Problems of Protected (Conservation) Area Management in Africa
9. Principles for the Management of Protected Areas
10. Categories of Conservation Areas
11. Strategies for Reconciling the Primary Objectives of Conservation of Biodiversity with Rural Development
12. Local Community Participation in Wildlife Conservation in Southern Africa
13. Suggested Action Plan for Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Africa: The Case of Nigeria
14. Migratory Birds of Africa
15. In-Situ Conservation of Wildlife in West Africa
16. Ex-Situ Conservation of Wildlife: Domestication of the African Giant Rat (Cricetomys Gambianus Waterhouse)
17. Ex-Situ Conservation of Wildlife
Part 4: Curriculum Development and Evolution Capacity Building for Protected Area Management in Africa
18. Curriculum Development and Evolution of Capacity Building for Protected Area Management In Africa: The Experience Of University Of Ibadan, Nigeria
19. Utilization of Biodiversity for Entrepreneurship and Job Creation
20. Model Academic Programmes in Wildlife and Fisheries Management
Dr S.S. Ajayi joined the University of Ibadan as an assistant Training Fellow in Wildlife and Range Management at the Department of Forestry in 1968. He moved up the academic ladder after his doctoral training, and in 1980, Dr Ajayi became a Professor of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Ibadan. He created the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management with separate degree program in Wildlife and Fisheries Management and became the Pioneer Head of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management at the University of Ibadan from 1981 to 1988. He was also the Pioneer Dean for the College of Environmental Resources Management at the University of Agriculture in Abeokuta. Dr Ajayi was team leader of an expert group, which produced the Action Plan for Conservation of renewable natural resources in Nigeria. He was also project leader at the National Science and Technology Development Agency of a research project on studies dealing with the domestication and control of wildlife species and their importance in food production and public health. He was Chairman of the Publicity Sub-Committee of the National Wildlife Conservation Committee and Chairman of the Committee of Wildlife Specialists on the Development of Lake Kainji National Park. Dr Ajayi is the first Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Ecology in Africa, and also holds the title of United Nations Scholar in Wildlife Conservation and Management. His work has emphasized the need to bring the rural population into development policy process by incorporating them into wildlife management institutions and mechanisms, so that they can derive a sense of ownership and thus develop a collective interest in wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability.