Mission
The mission of CAWA is to network individuals and organizations dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and ensuring their welfare.
CAWA is dedicated to assisting all insular and coastal states and territories of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and their adjacent waters, the islands of the Bahamas and south to the French Department of Guiana with the protection of local species and preserving their natural habitats by strengthening cooperation and communication, and promoting the advancement of education.
As a framework for the operation of CAWA, wildlife is defined as managed and unmanaged populations of native and feral animals, including amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Objectives
- To support a regional network of wildlife conservationists for facilitating access to:
- Information and Intelligence
- Expertise
- Resources
- To raise awareness of wildlife issues throughout the region, using a mix of media and pooling of resources, in collaboration with non-governmental partners.
- Promote the adoption of best management practices that ensure the welfare of wildlife.
- Avoid the exploitation of local endangered species, and to ensure sustainable use of those species on which these depend.
- Take the steps necessary to restore threatened populations and their habitats.
- Address other threats including contaminants, barriers to movement, loss of important habitats, among others.
- Promote cooperation to control the illegal extraction and trade of species and of the species upon which they depend;
- Promote the implementation of public awareness campaigns and other relevant activities to increase the participation of civil society in the conservation/welfare of wildlife.
Board Members
In keeping with the regional scope of CAWA, the members on the Board represent a diverse network of stakeholders. They are:
Gupte Lutchmedial (Trinidad), Richard Sheffield (ZooLeón, Mexico), Nadra Nathai-Gyan (Trinidad), Narain Gobin (Suriname); Violet Walker-Mohanlall (Guyana); Geddes Hislop (Cayman Islands); Kelvin Alie (Dominica); Benjamin De La Rosa (Trinidad), John Seyjagat (Florida, USA), Karl Jaikeran (Martinique), Lisa R-Maharaj (Trinidad) and John Wortman (Florida, USA).
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