“Counting Sheep”: The Comparative Advantages of Wildlife and Livestock – A Community Perspective1

It was a hot humid morning as always in the small village of Amokwasuaso in Ghana’s western region. We sat in the small, dilapidated community meeting hall awaiting the arrival of a World Bank fact-finding mission. The Amokwasuaso community has achieved some celebrity in Ghana as the first community to have the rights to manage wildlife devolved to its residents by the State. The fact-finding mission wanted to know how this had been achieved and whether this approach could be tried elsewhere. As we waited for the World Bank team to arrive, we talked informally about issues and problems facing the community. Then I asked the gathering a question, “If I brought you a goat and a bushbuck and you could choose one of them, which would you prefer?” A woman in the assembly immediately shot back with the question, “Are they alive or dead?” I had not expected this question, but replied that we should assume that they are alive. Her response was swift, “I would take the goat!” “Why?” I asked. “Well, if you have a goat you can control it, get another, breed it, and own it. If you have a bushbuck you cannot control it and it will run free and be taken by others.” This was a logical and sensible response. Then I asked, “And what if they were dead?” Again there was no hesitation in the response, “Certainly, I would choose the bushbuck!” Again I asked why. With a smile on her face and to the amusement of all gathered, she said, “Everyone knows that the bushbuck is much better meat!” In this short exchange, this lady from Amokwasuaso had highlighted the challenges faced by governments all over Africa that seek rural development, including improved domestic animal husbandry, while looking after the environment and wildlife resources. The challenge is to understand comparative advantages and values of wildlife and domestic livestock, to seek a scenario that gives people the freedom to choose but that also changes the tenurial status of wildlife resources so that the value is more than just “better meat.” For conservation of wildlife in Africa to work, a significant shift is needed in the current real and perceived comparative advantage of livestock over wildlife. Incentives and disincentives for wildlife