The purpose of the Trust is to fund grants on an annual basis following written submissions for funding from suitably qualified parties from a capital pool of funds. It is anticipated that both individuals and organisations involved in any parrot related conservation, education and research project and/or associated programs can apply for funding assistance.
Preference will be given to Australian conservation efforts but the Trustees will consider funding international programs as well as cooperating jointly with other conservation projects.
The Parrot Trust is managed buy a Board of 3 Trustees including 2 members of the Parrot Society Management Committee as well as a recognised Avian Veterinarian.
The source of funds for the capital pool will be bequests, donations and specific fund raising activities and events conducted by the Parrot Society.
The Society has felt that there is a very great need for the establishment of the Trust as over the years we have had to refuse requests for assistance with funding various very worthwhile projects, simply because the funds have not been available, nor has there been suitable structures in place to enable this to occur in the most appropriate manner. For example, we were unable to provide financial support for new research projects on the Golden
Shouldered Parrot in Northern Australia and the Nyasa Lovebird in Southern Africa simply due of a lack of funds.
We are sure that every aviculturist and companion parrot owner will agree that there is a desperate need for additional funding to be made for ongoing research into avian diseases such as PBFD, PDD, IPD, Pacheco’s disease and Polyoma virus not to mention a host of other medical problems facing both birds in captivity and those in the natural environment.
There is no doubt that the demands for funding will far exceed the ability of the Trust to fund especially in the short term. However, we felt that by taking this first step we will allow future generations of parrot owners and of course the birds themselves to benefit by our foresight and today’s committed aviculturists.
We urge all dedicated aviculturists, wherever you are, to consider making a donation or providing a small bequest in their wills to be allocated to the Parrot Trust. In this way, a legacy will be left for the benefit of both the parrots and future generations of aviculturists.
