In addition to educating citizens, it is often important to educate visitors, particularly in instances where visitors might be tempted to purchase products made with species that are threatened with extinction. Following a Caribbean CITES Implementation Training Seminar in 1992, a brochure campaign was launched to raise awareness of visitors to the region regarding CITES. Caribbean nations and the CITES Secretariat requested the brochure, whose development was supported by the Conservation Treaty Support Fund, DHL Airways Inc, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Special Expeditions Inc, and World Wildlife Fund/TRAFFIC USA.
The primary focus of the brochure was to educate visitors to the Caribbean about the biological diversity of the Caribbean, CITES, and CITES-listed species in the Caribbean. Its tagline was “some souvenirs you buy in the Caribbean could end up costing a lot more than you paid for them”.
The brochure stipulates consideration of not purchasing sea turtles, certain corals, some plants, certain reptiles, some shells, and certain birds, as well as goods including products from those plants and animals. These goods include certain jewelry, carvings, handbags, shoes, belts, watchstraps, and products containing feathers.English, French, and Spanish versions of the brochure were distributed to visitors in a number of forums.
For more information, contact Ms. Kim Downes in the Ministry of Housing, Lands and the Environment downesk@gob.bb