Raising awareness on wildlife trade in Indonesia

Since our last update in March, our team has been incredibly active in disseminating our research and raising awareness about parrot conservation on both local and international stages. These efforts are crucial for building the networks and support needed to tackle the illegal wildlife trade in Indonesia. We are excited to share the progress our dedicated local collaborators, my students, Dudi Nandika and Dwi Agustina, have made in representing our project at various prestigious events.

Our outreach began in Indonesia, bringing our project's message to key audiences. In March, Dudi delivered a talk on "Parrot Conservation Action in Maluku" at the Bali Bird Congress. This was followed in April by a special invitation for both Dudi and Dwi to give guest lectures at Pattimura University in Ambon. Dudi presented an overview of "Parrot and Conservation in Indonesia", while Dwi shared her Master's research on "Aligning Local Wisdom with Parrot Conservation Efforts on Seram Island, Maluku".

Our team's presence was also felt on the global stage. In June, I was honored to deliver a plenary lecture on "The role of genetics in parrot conservation" at the International Psittacine Congress, and you can watch the recorded talk here. At the same conference, Dudi presented a poster detailing his findings on the "Abundance of Eclectus Parrots on Seram Island, Indonesia".

Most recently, Dudi had a remarkable presence at the Indonesian Bird Researchers and Observers Conference (KPPBI 7) in August. He delivered two oral presentations: one on the "Recent status of the Moluccan Cockatoo and conservation efforts on Ambon Island," and another on the "Recent status of the endemic birds on Buru Island, Indonesia." He also presented a poster on the status of the Moluccan Eclectus in Manusela National Park. We are incredibly proud to announce that for his significant contributions, Dudi received a Young Researchers Award from Rangkong Indonesia.

These presentations are vital for sharing our findings and building a strong foundation for the next phase of our fieldwork. By engaging with scientists, students, and local communities, we are paving the way for sustainable, community-based solutions to the wildlife trade.

Thank you for your invaluable support that makes this all possible. Please stay tuned for more updates here or at our project’s website at stopparrottrade.org.