Overhunting

Overhunting refers to the harvesting of wildlife at rates that exceed the species' natural capacity to replenish, resulting in population declines, genetic depletion, or increased extinction risk. It can occur through legal hunting that is not sufficiently regulated, illegal poaching, or unsustainable exploitation driven by commercial, subsistence, or trophy pressures. While hunting is a traditional activity in many societies, overhunting can threaten entire ecosystems by reducing key species and disrupting ecological interactions.

Ecological impacts include declines in animal populations, loss of genetic diversity, altered predator–prey relationships, and trophic cascades that affect vegetation and other wildlife. Social and economic effects can be severe, particularly for rural communities that rely on hunting for food, income, or cultural practices. Declines in wildlife can also reduce ecosystem services such as seed dispersal, pest control, and tourism revenue.

Drivers of overhunting include high market demand for meat, hides, or trophies; inadequate or poorly enforced regulations; illegal trade; weak governance and corruption; habitat loss and access to hunting grounds; and climate-related changes that affect species’ resilience.

Management responses emphasize sustainable harvest practices and habitat protection. Tools include scientific population assessments, harvest quotas, licensing, seasonal closures, and protected areas; community-based resource management and improved enforcement against poaching; efforts to reduce demand for wildlife products; and alternative livelihoods. International frameworks, such as CITES, aim to regulate trade in threatened species.

Overhunting remains a major conservation concern worldwide, requiring integrated strategies that balance ecological integrity with social and economic needs.