UNDERSTANDING THE TRADE AND CO-CREATING STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE UNSUSTAINABLE AND ILLEGAL USE OF SONGBIRDS FOR SINGING COMPETITIONS IN NORTHERN BRAZIL

THE STRONG CULTURE OF KEEPING SONGBIRDS FOR SINGING COMPETITIONS IN BRAZIL INCREASES DEMAND FOR THESE SPECIES FROM THE WILD.

LOW ENFORCEMENT ABILITY AND WEAK GOVERNANCE CREATE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN BRAZIL WHICH HAS INTERNATIONAL BORDERS WITH SEVERAL COUNTRIES AND THE LOWEST NUMBER OF AGENTS FROM PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTIONS. NORTHERN BRAZIL ALSO HAS THE LARGEST PROPORTION OF THE VULNERABLE HUMAN POPULATION (E.G.

HIGH POVERTY RATES LACK OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES) CREATING SOCIOECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

THESE FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE ILLEGAL SONGBIRD TRADE MORE ATTRACTIVE.THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONSERVATION OF TEN SPECIES OF SONGBIRDS TARGETED FOR TRADE FOR SINGING COMPETITIONS AND LISTED AS PRIORITY SONGBIRD SPECIES IN THE SPECIES CONSERVATION CATALYST FUND (SCCF) IN NORTHERN BRAZIL.

OF THESE 10 SPECIES AT LEAST FOUR SPECIES (SPOROPHILA MAXIMILIANI S. AMERICANA S. MINUTA AND S.

SCHISTACEA) HAVE DECLINING POPULATIONS ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN) WITH ILLEGAL TRADE BEING ONE OF THE FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCAL EXTINCTIONS OR REDUCTIONS IN THESE SPECIES.OUR LONG TERM GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE STABLE POPULATIONS OF THE TARGET SPECIES. OUR MID TERM GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE ILLEGAL AND UNSUSTA