Isla Biodiversity Conservation, Inc.

A squad of 17 Calayan youth underwent training at the Calayan High School on 28 July 2007 to go after local residents who may continue to snare the Calayan Rail. However, they will be armed with nothing but questionnaires, fact sheets, posters and t-shirts.

In the coming months these volunteers will collect and share information on the Calayan Rail with communities living near the forest. They will be aided by posters, fact sheets and other photographs.

In a program dubbed "Goodbye silo, hello bado" (literally "Goodbye snare, hello shirt"), volunteers will also be offering residents to exchange hunting implements for a shirt that bears the slogan "Mahal ko ang kalikasan, mahal ko ang piding" (literally "I love nature, I love the Calayan Rail"). Names of those who participate in the program will be publicized as supporters of conservation.

Angela Quiros, one of the lead proponents of the program, says the activity is an attempt to influence behavior (in this case, to stop snaring Calayan Rails) based on social marketing principles.

"It is difficult to influence peoples' behaviors, especially if they are used to it," says Angela. "One of the tools of behavior change is getting an initial small commitment, in this case, we are simply asking people to turn over snares. It might not stop their snaring practice entirely but it's a good start."

Youth volunteers will also be collecting information on local residents' knowledge, attitude and practices in relation to the Calayan Rail and the team will try to find out if there will be any change within a span of six months.

The Calayan Rail Project received a John Judy Award of $500 from the Environmental Education and Conservation Network to carry out this environmental education program.