Sustainable Innovation Initiatives Inc

THE GRAVITY OF THE THREATS POSED BY THE TRADE IN NEOTROPICAL SONGBIRDS FOR COMPETITIVE KEEPING IN THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN AND GUIANA SHIELD (SCGS) AND COMMUNITIES ABROAD DEMANDS INNOVATIVE CONCERTED AND COLLABORATIVE RESPONSES. TO MEET THIS DEMAND, SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION INITIATIVES INC. (SII), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GREEN HERITAGE FUND SURINAME (GHFS), WILDLIFE PEOPLE SURINAME (WPS), AND THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE (SVM), SHALL RESEARCH AND ADDRESS THE TRADE IN SONGBIRDS FOR SINGING COMPETITIONS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND SURINAME. THE CONSORTIUM WILL CONDUCT THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: 1. SONGBIRD HEALTH AND WELFARE ASSESSMENT IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2. SYNTHESIS OF EXISTING DATA ON THE DECLINE OF WILD SONGBIRDS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND SURINAME 3. TRADE RESEARCH FOR MAPPING AND UNDERSTANDING IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND SURINAME, 4. LEGAL REVIEW OF EXISTING LAWS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND SURINAME, AND 5. COALITION-BUILDING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND SURINAME. IMPORTANTLY, THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT A PARALLEL PROJECT LED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE (IFAW).

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO REDUCE THE ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BY LAUNCHING A TARGETED, COALITION-BASED BEHAVIOR CHANGE CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE DEMAND FOR ILLEGAL PET WILDLIFE. THIS PROJECT IS INTENDED TO CHANGE CONSUMER BEHAVIOR TO REDUCE THE DEMAND FOR ILLEGAL PET WILDLIFE FROM SOUTH AMERICA, AND TO FOSTER CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC INTEREST TO PROTECT NATIVE NEOTROPICAL FAUNA, DOMESTIC AGRICULTURE, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND FIVE PROTECTED AREAS FROM POACHING, INVASIVE SPECIES INTRODUCTIONS, AND ZOONOTIC DISEASE TRANSMISSION. SPECIFIC PROJECT ACTIVITIES CONSIST OF: (1) PRODUCTION OF CONSUMER-TESTED WEBSITE, ADVERTISEMENTS, AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO INFORM AND INCENTIVIZE BEHAVIOR CHANGE AMONG PET BUYERS, PET KEEPERS, AND THEIR UPSTREAM INFLUENCERS; (2) DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE- AND RISK-BASED PET WILDLIFE RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONFUSION AMONG TARGET AUDIENCES AND CONSERVATION LEADERS; (3) SUSTAINED DELIVERY OF WEB-CONTENT, ADVERTISING, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH MULTIPLE CHANNELS; (4) CONDUCT MIXED-METHODS EVALUATION OF CAMPAIGN IMPACTS AMONG PET BUYERS, PET KEEPERS, AND UPSTREAM INFLUENCERS; (5) IMPLEMENT A CAMPAIGN 'LEGACY' WORKSHOP AMONG COALITION PARTNERS FOR CONTINUED COLLABORATION AND/OR CAMPAIGN DIVESTITURE; AND (6) ESTABLISHMENT OF A COALITION OF INFLUENTIAL ORGANIZATIONS TO LAUNCH A SECOND TARGETED, COALITION-BASED BEHAVIOR CHANGE CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE ILLEGAL BUSHMEAT CONSUMPTION.