Rethinking extinction “crises”: The case of Asian songbird trade

Environmental challenges are often described as ‘crises,’ which are difficult to resolve due to complex and contradictory evidence. This talk examines the crisis narrative of the IUCN-declared Asian Songbird Crisis (ASC) in Indonesia, where birdkeeping culture is prevalent. We explore how different actors, especially conservation law enforcement and practitioners, perceive bird extinction through interviews and focus groups. Our findings reveal diverse attitudes towards the ASC, with many law enforcement actors not recognizing the crisis label. Market dynamics shift harvesting pressure onto similar species, challenging the notion that species extinction significantly impacts wildlife trades. This study highlights the need for a shared language around species extinction and the implications of the ‘crisis’ label.

This chapter is part of my broader PhD thesis, "Exploring Socio-Technological-Ecological Dimensions of Asian Songbird Trade." The thesis investigates the development of technological interventions for species identification in reducing illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and examines these technologies within their wider social, cultural, political, and legal contexts. While we demonstrate the proof of concept for species identification technology, we remain hesitant to endorse its deployment due to concerns about its efficacy, suitability, and ethical implications. Instead, we explore more sustainable and culturally sensitive trade strategies that may benefit wild populations of birds more effectively than increased law enforcement or demand reduction alone