Final answer:
Apart from its devastating effect on biodiversity, the major concern about bushmeat hunting is its threat to the persistence of tropical wildlife and their ecological functions. Commercial hunting practices have become increasingly unsustainable, and policy responses seek to restrict hunting practices and provide substitutes to decrease its benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major concern about bushmeat hunting apart from its devastating effect on biodiversity is the threat it poses to the persistence of tropical wildlife and their ecological functions. Bushmeat hunting is practiced throughout the world but is particularly prevalent in equatorial Africa and parts of Asia. It is believed to contribute to the extinction risk of several species, including primates and great apes living in the Congo basin.
This commercial hunting for wild meat has become increasingly unsustainable due to the recent commercialization of the practice and the increased need for protein foods as a result of human population growth. The availability of bushmeat in grocery stores has further accelerated harvest rates to unsustainable levels. Apart from its effect on biodiversity, bushmeat hunting also raises concerns about overexploitation and the potential loss of forest habitats and the political will to protect forests.
To address this issue, policy responses include demand-side restrictions on hunting practices and the supply-side provision of substitutes to decrease the benefits of bushmeat hunting, such as establishing quotas, bans on specific species or hunting gear, and market fines or taxes.