This study analyzed the livelihoods of people living around two great ape reserves in Africa, the Luo Scientifi c Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Uganda, based on quantitative assessments carried out for several years. The results show clear differences in food sources between the two sites. The forest is an important food source in Luo, whereas the market is central in Kalinzu. This difference should be acknowledged when adjusting management plans for the great ape reserves to fi t the actualities of local livelihoods. For example, in Kalinzu, restricted forest use can be compensated by an increase in cash income, which is more acceptable than in Luo, where the market economy is less developed and the forest provides most of the protein consumed by local people. This difference in degree of integration into the market economy presents different challenges for the long-term management of the reserves.