Can Socioeconomic Variables Influence Bird Hunting Activity in the Brazil's Semi-Arid Region?

Bird hunting in Brazil's semi-arid region is a widespread practice with implications for biodiversity conservation and food security in local communities. This study evaluated how socioeconomic factors determine the activity level and bird hunting profile in Catimbau National Park where it is banned. We tested if gender, age, schooling, occupation, receipt of government aid, income, and the number of family members influence whether or not a person is a hunter, looking at past and present hunting activities. We also test if these same socioeconomic variables determine the hunting profile, influenced by the total known species, nature of hunting (food or other uses), and total known techniques. In seven peasant communities, we interviewed 47 respondents through semi-structured interviews. We conducted two multiple component analyses to characterize the profile of hunters. Our results show that socioeconomic factors do not define historical hunting. However, gender defines current activity, which is predominantly by men. We believe that the context of prohibition and penalization requires an evaluation of the cost and benefit of hunting activity, in which the risk of being arrested or losing government aid is factored in. The profile of bird hunters is not merely governed by socioeconomic logic.