I feel like in canon the 'dex is given to trainers as an equal exchange, almost- the Professor is like "I give you a Pokémon and help you start out; you return the favor with data collection." It makes sense that Wisteria would be essentially doing the same, though with a focus on sighting rather than capturing. Perhaps the cast's "job" during their journey is to use the Pokédex to scan a certain amount of Pokémon per area? It doesn't need to be something that the cast writes out at all, just something that their characters are doing every day along the way. As basic as walking, eating, or using the bathroom, and as necessary to mention as any of those. Although perhaps if a player makes the choice to actively ignore that job, Wisteria might Do Something. Actions have consequences!
Team Phantom causing a severe imbalance in the environment via mass capture (for what reason? To keep for themselves? To sell? To cull Pokémon that are interfering with their businesses? All of the above?) can be a significant point here. That behavior would absolutely result in tighter capture regulations (implementing licenses, restricting PokéBall sales), because of course the blame would go to trainers- they're the only ones who capture a significant amount of Pokémon (ties in to "you can only capture one Pokémon per area). Maybe this is why Wisteria is at the forefront of this trainer program, too- she's here to educate on the importance of preserving and rehabilitating biodiversity in the region, and how to do that even as a professional trainer. Sounds a bit like she may have been a Ranger in the past if we go that route, haha. Not that that's a problem~
If we're taking a more realistic/political approach to an evil team, the usual goal for organizations is... money. Just straight up money. Perhaps, at the highest level, money to do Big Things (invest in wild technology, influence a country to a personal agenda), but the main motivator is still that sweet sweet cash. Capturing Pokémon to sell is much easier without interference from pesky trainers. And once Kinyo started to regulate PokéBall sales Phantom probably just started buying from other regions. It isn't worth it for shopkeepers to keep stocking all these goods if nobody is buying, after all. And if shops aren't ordering them, manufacturers aren't going to focus on selling to Kinyo. And if they aren't concerned with selling to Kinyo, Kinyo loses out on the kind of good deals that make buying the goods worth it. Anyway, Phantom might've stated manufacturing their own (extremely cheaply made) PokéBalls to corner the market in Kinyo exclusively. Adds profits while also making it so people still have trouble capturing- their PokéBalls probably have a worse catch rate than standard ones. Woohoo, economics! (I'm uh... business-minded, haha. It's interesting!)
I think Mahono Town/Rt 301/Nashimity Town should be enough to get people into the flow of the RP- about three posts per person tends to settle people into their characters. Plot can start dropping in Nashimity Town- at least hints of how Phantom is influencing the region and how the League is essentially falling apart. Bigger events will turn up as they go, but presenting plot-relevant ideas should start sooner rather than later. I think we've got something good with focusing on the decline of training and battling, plus Phantom being a major antagonist! We just need to like, decide and schedule specific plot points.
By the way, do you have any docs you could share with me? I usually use Google docs for RP planning. Might help to have all the information in one place!