Trophy hunting in sub-Saharan Africa supports conservation by providing strong financial incentives for maintaining wildlife as a land use, especially in areas unsuitable for ecotourism. Because high-quality trophies require low off-take, the industry is largely self-regulating and contributes to the rehabilitation of degraded habitats. Hunting operators also often fund and conduct anti-poaching efforts. However, there are conservation challenges tied to trophy hunting. This paper outlines these issues and presents solutions to improve the industry’s long-term conservation value while maintaining its ecological and economic benefits.
