NEWSLETTER

Project type: Associated

  • Guyana songbird project

    Guyana songbird project

    The need

    The trade in wild-caught songbirds poses a significant threat to several species, yet it has received far less attention compared to other forms of wildlife trade, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean. While much of the focus has been on the supply side of the trade, there is limited data on the demand from diaspora communities who maintain bird-keeping traditions as part of their cultural heritage.

    In Guyanese communities in New York, ‘bird racing’ competitions are widespread, creating a continuous demand for wild songbirds. Understanding the motivations behind this demand is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies that address unsustainable trapping and trade.

    Duration

    2024 – 2028

    Location

    Guyana and the United States of America (USA)

    Infobrief

    What we’re doing

    This four-year project is aimed at understanding and influencing demand for songbirds in diaspora communities. Our key activities include:

    1

    Investigating consumer demand for wild-caught songbirds in Guyanese communities in the USA.

    2

    Exploring the cultural significance of bird-keeping and racing traditions.

    3

    Developing participatory methods to engage communities in sustainable bird-keeping practices.

    4

    Identifying pathways for change that reduce the impact of trade on wild songbird populations.

    The team

    This project is a collaboration between:

    CIFOR-ICRAF, University of Alabama, University of Oxford

    Project leads:

    Lauren Coad

    l.coad@cifor-icraf.org

    Amy Hinsley

    amy.hinsley@biology.ox.ac.uk

    Featured work

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    Supporters

    This project is supported by

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    Guyana songbird project
  • Consumption and trade of wild animals in West and Central Africa

    Consumption and trade of wild animals in West and Central Africa

    The need

    Wild meat consumption in urban areas of West and Central Africa is influenced by complex social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors. While often associated with rural subsistence, wild meat remains a popular dietary choice in cities, raising important questions about food security, conservation, and public health.

    Understanding the drivers of urban wild meat consumption is crucial for developing effective policies that balance biodiversity conservation with food system sustainability. However, data on urban demand, trade networks, and consumer decision-making remain limited. This research provides critical insights to inform strategies that address both conservation concerns and local dietary and economic needs.

    Duration

    2023 – 2026

    Location

    Guinea, Liberia, Cameroon

    What we’re doing

    This research is part of the newly established Food and Nature Programme at University of Kent, which seeks to create sustainable food systems that benefit both people and the environment. This collaborative research programme integrates conservation science, environmental psychology, behavioural science, food systems science, and health studies to quantify and analyse urban wild meat consumption and trade. Key activities include:

    1

    Surveying over 12,000 urban residents across Guinea, Liberia, and Cameroon to assess consumption patterns.

    2

    Using dietary intake surveys and mobile-phone surveys to capture real-time data on wild meat consumption.

    3

    Conducting choice experiments to understand consumer preferences and the motivations behind wild meat purchases.

    4

    Mapping food environments to explore how accessibility and availability influence consumption decisions.

    5

    Analysing socio-cultural, economic, health, and spatial factors that shape urban demand for wild meat.

    This research also explores the barriers to understanding and communicating zoonotic disease risks associated with wild meat by:  

    • Examining challenges in risk perception and communication among different stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers and communities.  
    • Assessing knowledge gaps in how zoonotic spillover risks are understood in different contexts.  
    • Exploring the effectiveness of risk communication strategies to ensure clear, science-based messaging.  
    • Providing recommendations for improving public health messaging and conservation policies related to wild meat and zoonotic diseases.  

    The team

    This project is a collaboration between:

    University of Kent, ABOYERD, University of Yaoundé, Guinée Ecologie, ISAV and Society for the Conservation of Nature Liberia (SCNL)

    Project lead:

    Daniel Ingram

    d.j.ingram@kent.ac.uk

    Featured work

    No posts found.

    Supporters

    This project is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

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    SWM Programme – Guyana

    Community-based wildlife management to ensure sustainable wild meat use, food security, and health

    Consumption and trade of wild animals in West and Central Africa

    SWM Programme – Cameroon

    Community-based wildlife management to ensure sustainable wild meat use, food security, and health

    Consumption and trade of wild animals in West and Central Africa