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…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI) awarded a $530,290.58 Project Grant under the Combating Wildlife Trafficking program (CFDA 15.679) to Sustainable Innovation Initiatives, Inc. (SII) to address the trade in neotropical songbirds for singing competitions in Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname. The 3-year project, awarded on June 5, 2024, will be carried out in partnership with Green Heritage Fund Suriname, Wildlife People Suriname, and the University of the West Indies School of Veterinary Medicine. Key activities include assessing songbird health and welfare, synthesizing data on wild songbird declines, conducting trade research and mapping, reviewing existing laws, and building coalitions for strategic planning. This project aims to complement a parallel effort led by the International Fund for Animal Welfare to combat the significant threats posed by the international songbird trade in the Southern Caribbean and Guiana Shield regions.

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).