Evidence for the critical importance of anti-poaching patrols to protect African wildlife

Tropical forests are on the front lines of the current global extinction crisis, and effective conservation strategies are crucial to prevent continued wildlife declines and extinctions. The establishment and maintenance of protected areas have constituted a primary strategy to safeguard wildlife against anthropogenic threats including overhunting and habitat destruction and degradation. Empirical research is critical for determining their effectiveness. Part of West Africa's Upper Guinea Forests biodiversity hotspot, protected areas in Ghana include both Wildlife Protected Areas (WPAs) and Forest Reserves (FRs) where all hunting is prohibited. Their management differs in that WPAs feature …