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We recognize the interests of the Kingdom of Swaziland and the complex issues of southern white rhino management, but with such high stakes for rhinos, we voted no on this proposal. The proposed actions would have come with tremendous risk and uncertainty, and we found the unknowns unacceptable.
With continuously high levels of rhino poaching and illegal trade in rhino horn, any opening of trade would be a dangerous experiment that could promote additional poaching and would come with significant enforcement challenges, allowing legal trade to serve as a cover for illegal trade.
Experimenting with legal trade in rhino horn would be too risky, given the small population size of rhinos in Swaziland, the small and isolated populations in other countries, and the high level of rhino poaching throughout Africa. We believe commercialization of rhino horn would undermine conservation and enforcement efforts.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, head of the U.S. delegation to the 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, regarding CoP17 Prop. 7 to alter the existing annotation on the Appendix II listing of Swaziland’s white rhino, adopted at the 13th Conference of Parties in 2004, so as to permit a limited and regulated trade in white rhino horn that has been collected in the past from natural deaths or recovered from poached Swazi rhino, as well as horn to be harvested in a non-lethal way from a limited number of white rhino in the future in Swaziland, proposed by Swaziland.
We applaud the leadership and dedication of Kenya, Gabon, Chad, Botswana, and the many other proposing and supporting range states. Notwithstanding the fact that their proposal was defeated, elephants and elephant conservation have overwhelmingly won the day at this CoP. Their courage and passion have helped fuel a great series of successes.
All routes to opening legal ivory trade have been blocked. We've urged member nations to close domestic ivory markets that contribute to poaching or wildlife trafficking. We've strengthened provisions to identify and potentially sanction nations that are not taking adequate steps to stem this crisis.
However, the United States voted no, on this proposal, because it opened up the potential that member nations would take a reservation and use a victory on Appendix I uplisting as a back door to resume trade.
In fact, during discussion on the proposal, Namibia explicitly stated its intention to take a reservation.
We are unalterably opposed to resumption of commercial ivory trade, under any terms. Therefore, because of the risk it represented, we felt compelled to oppose a proposal that we would otherwise support.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, head of the U.S. delegation to the 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, regarding proposal CoP17 Prop. 16 to include all populations of African elephant in Appendix I of CITES through the transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I of the populations of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, proposed by Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Uganda.
CITES Parties have come to an agreement that will eliminate commercial trade in bones and products from wild lions, and we are pleased with that outcome. The suite of decisions adopted today will give range countries the necessary support to evaluate trade and work collaboratively on lion conservation plans and strategies. The United States, through the Endangered Species Act, has strong protections in place for African lions and we are committed to working with range countries and through international fora to ensure the future of this majestic species. As we have done in the U.S., we encourage all nations to consider adopting even more stringent domestic measures to protect lions.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, head of the U.S. delegation to the 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES
Photo from the Flickr stream of Dimitry B. shared under Creative Commons licensing
(Johannesburg, South Africa) Member nations of a key global wildlife trade treaty today delivered a critical victory in the battle to save elephants from the devastating impacts of ivory trafficking by agreeing to clamp down on the sale of ivory within their borders. The United States, which recently enacted its own unilateral restrictions on the sale of African elephant ivory, had called on the signatories to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to take all necessary legislative, regulatory and enforcement efforts to close their domestic markets for commercial trade in raw and worked elephant ivory.
“The United States has taken strong actions to impose a near-total ban on elephant ivory import, export and domestic sale,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, head of the U.S. delegation to the treaty’s 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) in Johannesburg, South Africa. “In September 2015, China committed to take similar actions. At this meeting, we’ve worked closely with Kenya and several other African elephant range states on this historic effort. The world is coming together on this issue and our goal now is to have all countries examine their domestic markets and take any and all actions necessary to ensure they are not contributing to ongoing poaching and illegal ivory trade.”
The illegal killing of elephants and trade in their ivory is a major problem across much of Africa. Poaching and illegal ivory trade threatens the survival of savanna and forest elephants, including those previously thought to be secure. Beyond the threat to the elephants themselves, this trade undermines the ecological integrity of African forest and savanna ecosystems, and it harms the sustainable economic development of local communities as well as elephant range states. Legal sales of ivory, including within domestic markets, increase the risk to elephant populations and local communities by creating a significant opportunity for the laundering of illegal ivory.
“Elephants are protected under CITES, but until each country with a domestic ivory market takes responsibility by enacting and enforcing strong laws to end the commercial trade in ivory, we won’t be able to staunch the hemorrhaging of ivory out of Africa into markets around the world,” said Ashe. “Ivory should not have value unless it’s attached to an elephant.”
CoP17 is taking place from Sept. 24 through Oct. 5, 2016. CITES is an international agreement initiated in 1973 and since ratified by 182 countries and the European Union to protect certain wild animals and plants against over-exploitation as a result of international trade. More than 35,000 species of animals and plants benefit from CITES protection. Every two to three years, a session of the CoP is held to review, discuss and decide on changes in the implementation of CITES, including changes in protections for certain species.
To learn more about the Service’s involvement in CITES, visit: https://www.fws.gov/international/cites/cop17.
View the Service’s “Choose Elephants Over Ivory” Flickr album at https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq/albums/72157668801328061.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube.
Photo from the Flickr stream of Peter Steward shared under Creative Commons licensing
(Johannesburg, South Africa) - African grey parrots are being loved to death. Their intelligence and longevity make them popular as pets, and overharvest for the pet trade is devastating populations in the wild. Fortunately, nations gathered at the world’s largest and most important wildlife trade conference today handed these birds a lifeline by granting them increased protections under a global treaty called the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES member nations, referred to as “Parties,” voted to increase protections for grey parrots in a proposal co-sponsored by the United States.
“Increased CITES protections come not a minute too soon for African grey parrots,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, head of the U.S. delegation to the treaty’s 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) in Johannesburg, South Africa. “During the past 25 years, more than 1.5 million wild African greys have been taken from their native habitats, making them one of the most traded of all CITES-listed parrots.”
The Johannesburg vote moves the parrots from Appendix II of the convention to Appendix I, the most restrictive of the CITES designations, which prohibits international commercial trade. Leading up to and during this meeting, the United States worked closely with a coalition of countries committed to gaining support for the Appendix I-listing proposal. The proposal, submitted by Angola, Chad, the European Union, Gabon, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and the United States, was adopted in a vote with 95 countries in support, 35 opposed, and 5 abstentions.
Thriving wild populations of the African grey parrot were once widespread throughout west and central Africa. However, CITES Appendix II protections were insufficient to control the pet trade demand, which, combined with deforestation for timber, fuelwood and agricultural expansion, has caused the species to be eliminated from much of its West African range. Today, the largest populations are now found only in central Africa.
Today’s vote still needs to be finalized at a session later in the week, but Ashe is confident the strength of the science supporting the Appendix I listing will ensure the protections will be upheld.
CoP17 is taking place from Sept. 24 through Oct. 5, 2016. CITES is an international agreement initiated in 1973 and since agreed to by 182 countries and the European Union to protect certain wild animals and plants against over-exploitation as a result of international trade. More than 35,000 species of animals and plants benefit from CITES protection. Every two to three years, a session of the CoP is held to review, discuss and decide on changes in the implementation of CITES, including changes in protections for certain species.
Species protected by CITES fall under one of three appendices. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction and provides the greatest level of protection, including restrictions on commercial trade. Appendix II includes species that, although currently not threatened with extinction, may become so without trade controls. Changes to Appendices I and II must be proposed at a CoP and agreed to by a two-thirds majority of the parties present and voting. In contrast, listings to Appendix III can be requested by individual parties at any time. Appendix III includes species protected by at least one country that needs assistance from other parties to control trade.
VIDEO: Produced by Cornell Lab of Ornithology available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfXxh0Eff_w
PHOTOS are available for select CITES CoP17 species at
Please credit photos as noted in associated captions.
To learn more about the Service’s involvement in CITES CoP17, visit: https://www.fws.gov/international/cites/cop17.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube.
CITES Parties urge new beginning for most trafficked mammals at CoP17
It’s just the beginning for pangolins, and together we will change the fate of the world’s most trafficked mammals. That was the key message of a side-event to CITES CoP17 this evening hosted by the governments of Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Senegal, Viet Nam and the United States.
CITES CoP17 Delegates from India Celebrate Successful Appendix I Proposals for Pangolins
Generously sponsored and organized by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Humane Society International, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, the event was originally planned as an opportunity to encourage CITES Delegates to support the transfer of the eight pangolin species from Appendix II to Appendix I of the treaty, helping protect pangolins worldwide from unchecked unsustainable trade and trafficking that has threatened their survival. But, since all four proposals received overwhelming support in Committee I and will be recommended for adoption in the Plenary, the evening became a call to action for Parties to effectively implement the CITES Appendix I listings for pangolins.
Observers, Party Delegates, and Visitors alike were mesmerized in Committee I today as nation after nation, both ranges states and a host of supportive countries far from pangolins’ native ranges spoke eloquently and passionately in support of the proposals to list pangolins under Appendix I.
“The time to protect pangolins from intercontinental trade is now,” said the Delegate from Trinidad and Tobago.
“We are at a critical time for pangolins,” said the Delegate from Togo, “and the international community will no longer tolerate this situation,” referring to the shocking scale of trafficking and trade in pangolin meat and scales, which has driven wild pangolin populations to critical levels.
Emotions ran high in the afternoon and as it became clear that the proposals would be recommended for adoption with nearly unanimous support, the moment was acknowledged with sighs of relief, applause, and tears. It was a long awaited moment for the scientists and policy makers in the room that had been working strategically and collaboratively together for years to pave the way for Appendix I up-listing in the lead up to this CoP.
Smiles from the United States Delegation after successful interventions for pangolins at CoP17.
South African pangolin scientist Darren Pietersen welcomes Delegates, scientists and NGO representatives to the CoP17 side event “Changing the fate of the world’s most trafficked mammals.”
As Party Delegates, scientists, and non-government organizations joined together at the evening event, the conversation swiftly turned from pure celebration to determined commitments to reverse the grim decline of pangolin species. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe thanked the coalition of range states and NGOs that worked tirelessly to gain support for the Appendix I-listing proposals, and challenged them to make this the moment that turns the tide for pangolins.
“Now is the time to join together to build lasting and meaningful conservation actions to bring pangolins back from the brink,” said Ashe.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe challenges guests to make Appendix I listing a turning point for pangolins.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists and policy makers celebrate successful pangolin proposals at CoP17.
Read our press release for additional details about today’s successful proposals to strengthen protections for pangolins. Check out Director Ashe’s recent Huffington Post blog to learn more about why Appendix I protections for pangolins are critical and how the Service is working with range states through novel conservation initiatives like the MENTOR Progress for Pangolins fellowship program to make sure that pangolins have a bright future.
MENTOR Progress on Pangolins fellows working hard at CoP17 to support Appendix I listing and a bright future for pangolins.
Stay tuned to our Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook feeds to follow the events at CoP17.
You may have noticed that at no point in our discussions of CITES have we described it as a treaty that “bans all trade in wildlife,” or, “protects all wildlife absolutely from everything.” It’s easy to assume that if a species is listed under one of the CITES Appendices it’s absolutely protected from all threats to the species, full stop. But that’s not how it works.
CITES doesn’t address all aspects of wildlife conservation, rather it deals with international trade of species listed in its Appendices. The aim of CITES is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES doesn’t ban trade; CITES regulates international trade in listed species. Certain activities are prohibited, and certain activities are allowed. For example, commercial trade in Appendix I species is generally prohibited, but limited trade for scientific and other noncommercial purposes is allowed, provided certain strict requirements are met.
You may be surprised to learn that much of CITES comes down to a system of permits. CITES establishes an international legal trade framework with common procedures and mechanisms via a permitting system. Permit requirements depend on the status of the species in the CITES Appendices. Traders must apply for a CITES permit if they want to send out or bring in listed species, including parts and products, across international borders. If you bring wildlife into the country, that’s an import. If you send wildlife out of the country, that’s an export. And, if a species is sent across one border, and then another, the second and all subsequent crossings are called re-exports. All of these activities are considered trade, even if it’s personal. For example, if you have a pet bird that is a CITES-listed species and you want to take it out of the country, that is a trade activity that requires a permit.
Before a listed species is exported for the first time, a permit or certificate from the exporting country is required. For Appendix I and Appendix II species, such a permit may be granted when the trader can demonstrate that the export will not be detrimental to the species’ survival, and the specimen was legally acquired. For Appendix III species, (remember we discussed in our blog yesterday that Appendix III addresses legal origin, not sustainability) the trader only needs to demonstrate that the specimen was legally acquired. For all CITES-listed species, the exporter must also demonstrate that any living specimens are prepared and shipped so as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment. For re-export, the trader must apply for a CITES re-export certificate, and demonstrate that the specimens were lawfully imported. Usually this means providing copies of cancelled and validated permits from the initial or most recent export.
No import permit is required for Appendix-II or -III specimens, but an import permit from the importing country is required for Appendix-I species, making Appendix I the highest level of protection under CITES. An import permit may be granted by the importing country when the importer can demonstrate that the purpose of the import will not be detrimental to the species’ survival, is not primarily commercial, and, if the specimen is alive, the importer is suitably equipped to house and care for live animals and plants.
There are special circumstances, exceptions, and exemptions—you could spend a career learning about the deeper intricacies of the CITES permits framework (and we have several experts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that have done just that!). But ultimately it comes down to a fairly straightforward set of questions that must be answered affirmatively before a CITES-listed species can move across international borders. Was the species acquired lawfully, and can you prove it? If it was stolen, or poached, a trader cannot lawfully take it out of the country because the trader can’t show evidence that the specimen was lawfully acquired, such as with a state hunting license; they won’t be able to get an export permit. Will the removal of the specimen cause detriment to the survival of the species? If the removal of the specimen from the country will cause the overall species harm, it can’t leave the country. Again, traders need to be prepared to show evidence that their activities are benign before a permit will be granted.
For Appendix I species, those that are threatened with extinction, careful consideration must be made before engaging in trade activities. In addition to the above questions, the importer must demonstrate that the import isn’t for primarily commercial purposes, and that they are equipped to properly house and care for living specimens. Populations of Appendix I species are too vulnerable to withstand commercial pressures, and the stakes are too high to transfer them to inadequate facilities.
And finally, regardless of which Appendices the species is listed in, will live animals and plants be shipped carefully and humanely?
If the answers to the above questions are yes, then generally, permits may be granted and the CITES permits framework will ensure that trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
So, you may be surprised to learn that when a species is listed to CITES it isn’t absolutely protected from every threat that it faces. If habitat destruction is hurting a species, CITES does not typically come into play. If pollution or climate change is hurting a species, CITES has limited ability to be relevant. CITES protections activate when a trade activity is undertaken—import, export, re-export. And this is serious business-- the wildlife trade involves hundreds of millions of individual plants and animals from tens of thousands of species, so unsustainable trade is a serious threat. Without careful oversight, species can easily be driven to extinction by over-exploitation. Ultimately, CITES is a critical piece of the conservation puzzle, but member countries must take steps to protect their wildlife and plants from the myriad threats they face beyond uncontrolled international trade.
Learn more about CITES permits and certificates at our factsheet and permits webpage. Learn more about the many ways the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protects wildlife and plants within our own borders at our homepage, www.fws.gov.
Stay tuned to our Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook feeds to follow the events at CoP17.
Photo credit: Chambered nautilus, Klaus Stiefel. The United States, along with Fiji, India, and Palau have submitted a proposal to include the seven species of chambered nautiluses in Appendix II of CITES. Inclusion in Appendix II would help ensure that continued harvest is legal and sustainable.
We talked yesterday and the day before about the language and dance of CITES—technical terms, titles and acronyms, rules, procedures. As we head into day 3 of CoP17, you’re probably thinking, when do we get to talk about wildlife and plants? That’s what we all care about, right? Right!
But bear with us--let’s introduce just one more term, and then we’ll be there: Appendix. Like the one that some of us have had removed? Nope—this type of appendix comes at the end of a document. According to a quick Google search, it’s a “section or table of subsidiary matter at the end of a book or document.” That kind of Appendix.
CITES is treaty, a document that lays out the rules for how a Party can trade in protected wildlife and plants. You can even read the text online at CITES.org. (Wait, what’s a Party? Check out our blog from the other day for details.) You won’t get far into the text of the treaty before you run into the word Appendix. Sure enough, these are tables of information at the end of the treaty. In fact, there are three lists, aptly named Appendix I, Appendix II, and Appendix III.
What’s on the lists? Roughly 5,000 species of animals and 30,000 species of plants that are protected by CITES against over-exploitation through international trade. (Finally we’re talking about wildlife and plants!) They are listed in the three CITES Appendices.
How do the Appendices differ? Generally, Appendix I-listing provides the highest level of protection, including a prohibition on commercial trade, and is reserved for species that are threatened with extinction. Appendix II protects species that are vulnerable to over-exploitation--trade in Appendix II is regulated and monitored, and commercial trade is allowed provided certain procedures are followed to ensure that trade is legal and sustainable. We’ll get into the details of how the protections work later this week. For now, back to what’s happening at CoP17.
One of the most important tasks the CITES Parties will undertake at CoP17 is to review progress in the conservation of listed species included in the Appendices, and consider proposals to amend the lists of species in Appendices I and II. To make a change to Appendix I or II, the change must be adopted by a two-thirds majority of Parties present and voting. Remember that yesterday we mentioned Committee I and Committee II? Committee I handles scientific matters, including proposals to change the list of wildlife and plants listed in Appendix I and Appendix II. Parties present and discuss proposals, and following discussions and debates in the form of interventions, the Committee I Chair makes a recommendation on whether to accept the proposal. At the end of the CoP, the Parties will come together to vote on that recommendation at a Plenary session. (As a reminder, we talked about Committees, Plenary, and Interventions in our blog yesterday.)
As for Appendix III, while its purpose is to address legal origin, not sustainability, it’s still powerful. It includes species protected by at least one country that has requested assistance to help regulate trade, and can be listed unilaterally by a Party, at any time. You may recall that the United States listed four species of freshwater turtles in Appendix III earlier this year.
We’ll continue to deconstruct CITES terminology tomorrow. Stay tuned to our Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook feeds to follow the events at CoP17.
So now that the CITES Delegates are at CoP17, what are they up to?
Yesterday the Opening Ceremony brought everyone together for an auspicious beginning. After a break for lunch, the first Plenary session got started, and CoP17 was officially underway. But wait, what’s a Plenary?
Yesterday we reviewed a suite of terms and acronyms that are critical to understanding attendance at CoP17. And, you guessed it, activities across the next two weeks come with specific terminology as well. Generally, these activities are divided into different types of meetings. When the full group of 183 Parties is together in one giant room for shared decision making, the meeting is called Plenary. In Plenary sessions, final decisions can be made. In contrast, the majority of the two weeks of the CoP will be spent in Committee meetings. Committees make recommendations that are then considered in the Plenary sessions. Proposals, resolutions, and decisions that are agreed in Committee meetings are not final until approved in the Plenary.
There are two Committees, aptly named, Committee I and Committee II. Committee I handles the species proposals (e.g. transferring pangolins from Appendix II to Appendix I, listing chambered nautilus in Appendix II) and other scientific issues. Committee II deals with the implementation of CITES (e.g. encouraging Parties to close their domestic ivory markets, ensuring that national laws effectively enforce CITES). (Don’t worry, we’ll address Appendix I and Appendix II in more detail later this week.)
Yesterday was the first Plenary session. So how do you conduct a meeting with Delegations from 183 CITES Parties? Does everyone talk at once? In fact, it is a sophisticated, cordial and intricately choreographed dance. At the front of the room sit some of the members of the Bureau at a long table. The Bureau is made up of the Chair, the Alternate Chair and the Vice-Chairs of the CoP, the Chairs of Committees I and II, the Chair of the Credentials Committee, the Chair and the other members of the Standing Committee, and the Secretariat. The Bureau ensures that the Rules of Procedure are followed and that business moves forward through the agenda.
Members of the CITES Bureau, lead by the CoP17 Chair, oversee Plenary
The Chair of the CoP (a representative of the host country) leads Plenary sessions. After introducing each agenda item, starting with actually agreeing to switch from the provisional agenda to the Working Program, which outlines the order of events for the CoP, she opens the floor for comments, referred to as Interventions, from Delegations. Delegations, seated in rows before the Bureau, signal to the Bureau their interest in presenting an intervention by raising a flag or pressing a button on the console in front of them. One by one, the Chair calls on each Party to speak to the Plenary. Interventions usually begin with cordial thanks to the Chair and the hosting government. A Delegate will then read the position of that member country on the agenda item under discussion. The Chair will then call on the next Party, and continue until everyone who wishes to speak has spoken. Observer groups, media and visitors watch and listen from the rear of the room.
The first Plenary session addresses administrative matters that will enable the Parties to work efficiently during the two-week meeting. The Parties must adopt the meeting agenda, appoint chairs of the Committees, and agree on the Rules of Procedure. The Rules of Procedure outline how the meetings will operate—how votes will be taken, how motions can be made, etc. On the surface, the adoption of the Rules of Procedures would seem to be a straightforward issue, something that could be decided without much debate. But, that’s not always the case. This year, the Parties are deciding voting mechanisms for the European Union, the treaty’s first regional economic integration organization (REIO) member. The rules they agree upon will set important precedents, and it’s important to take the time to get it right.
Yesterday, the first day of CoP17, it soon became clear after numerous interventions, including from the United States of America, that a decision on Rules of Procedure would not be agreed by consensus. The Chair of the Plenary initiated an in-session working group to work on the various amendments to the rules brought forward by the Parties. They’ve been tasked with returning with their final decisions for today’s Plenary meeting, scheduled for the afternoon.
What about the Committee meetings? Those will begin after the Rules of Procedure are adopted, and the CoP will proceed one step at a time.
So now you know a few more key terms that are critical to understanding CITES and CoP17: Plenary, Bureau, Intervention, Committee I and Committee II. There are more to come!
Stay tuned to this blog for more information and daily updates on CoP17.
Today, day 1 of CoP17, started with a beautifully orchestrated and dignified Opening Ceremony hosted by the South Africa Department of Environmental Affairs. The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma took time out from a demanding schedule to honor the attendees with his welcoming remarks. The ceremony concluded with a moving musical celebration where each attendee was able to accompany the dance troupe with their own drum for a “global drumbeat for wildlife” in true African style. It was an inspiring and energizing way to begin.
Across the past few weeks, we’ve introduced you to CITES and CoP17. You may have noticed that there are many acronyms, technical terms, abbreviations, and procedures associated with the treaty. Any large institution has its own vocabulary, and CITES is no different. To become comfortable with the discussion, it helps to build literacy of the language. Even the name of the treaty takes some getting used to: the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, aka CITES (pronounced SIGHT-EEZE). In the interest of helping you to follow along with the process, let’s see if we can deconstruct some of the CITES basics. (Just as a reminder, CITES is the global treaty that governs the international trade in wildlife and plants. Check out our blog from a few days ago that provides more detail on what makes CITES so special.)
So who participates in CoP17? A member of the treaty is called a Party. Parties to CITES include countries (such as Mexico, the United States of America, South Africa--there are 182 member nations in total) and one regional economic integration organization (REIO) (the European Union (EU), which became a Party in 2015). When the Parties get together, it’s not called a party (that word’s already taken, haha), or flock, or a herd—it’s called a meeting of the Conference of the Parties, or we call it a “cop” (CoP rhymes with “pop.”). A Party’s representatives at a CoP are called Delegates, and a group of Delegates is a Delegation. As with any governmental activity within a transparent and democratic system, non-governmental organizations are provided with an opportunity to participate—these groups attend the CoP as Observers.
Members of the United States of America Delegation to CITES CoP17
Let’s take a breath. So far we’ve introduced seven key terms and acronyms: CITES, Party, CoP, REIO, Delegates, Delegation and Observers. That will bring us up to the present day. Across the past week, a hard-working Delegation of government officials has journeyed from the United States to join the EU and the other 182 Party countries in Johannesburg, South Africa for CoP17. Observers from member nations made the trip as well, along with media representatives, and unofficial visitors. (For folks that are new to the discussion, we provided a brief introduction to the CoP a few days ago in our blog.)
Ready to learn more about CoP17? Stay tuned to this blog for daily updates.
Youth Forum for People and Wildlife Underway in Johannesburg Just Prior to CITES CoP17
This week, just before CITES CoP17, 34 impressive emerging young leaders in wildlife conservation from around the world have congregated in South Africa to discuss complex wildlife issues. They are all between 18-25 years of age and represent 25 different nationalities from 12 geographic regions. Selected from nearly 1,000 applicants, these 34 individuals are participating in the first Youth Forum for People and Wildlife in order to share their diverse experiences and expertise, build skills, and explore solutions to the challenging issues within conservation and wildlife trade.
Two major components make up the Youth Forum--the in-person conference is just one of the aspects. The second component is the Virtual Youth Forum for People and Wildlife, an online platform with the purpose of connecting conservationists around the world to offer a ‘conference experience’ without actually requiring physical presence. Online community members can stream portions of the live event and interact in delegate sessions, network with young professionals from around the world, and explore virtual exhibits that showcase delegates, partners, and issues.
Ultimately, the forum is a wonderful networking experience that promotes personal development. The goal is to train and provide these 34 delegates with the skills and knowledge required to effectively take part in international arenas, all for the benefit of wildlife conservation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to partner with International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and others to support this initiative, recognizing that the future of the worlds’ natural resources is dependent on educating, empowering, and investing in the next generation of conservation leaders. It is vital that youth are engaged in open dialogue and learn from varying perspectives so as to pinpoint commonalities and amplify them, building the foundation for conserving our shared global heritage.
The Youth Forum for People and Wildlife allows young leaders to share ideas and connect with people around the world. It celebrates the important role youth have in ensuring the future of the world’s wildlife; a particularly valuable sentiment to be highlighted immediately before CITES CoP17 where current global leaders are gathering South Africa, brought over for the same reasons.
Photos: #Youth4Wildlife leaders in action devising solutions to critical conservation challenges (IFAW); Youth Forum for People and Wildlife exhibit panel at #CITES CoP17 (USFWS)
The United States is a proponent or co-proponent of various proposals to help increase protections for species at the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Read more about the species in these quick snapshots, or in more detail on our website.
Chambered nautiluses, deep sea molluscs prized by collectors for their beautifully intricate shells, inhabit the tropical coastal reefs of the Indo-Pacific. Their distinctive buoyancy mechanism inspired the invention of the earliest modern submarine.
Harvested for their colorful shells and traded in large quantities, chambered nautiluses are sold as souvenirs to tourists and shell collectors, and as jewelry and home decoration items. The United States has long been concerned about the impact that high volumes of trade may have on the seven species in the nautilus family. Chambered nautiluses are slow to reproduce, leaving them particularly vulnerable to overfishing.
The United States, along with Fiji, India, and Palau have submitted a proposal to include the seven species of chambered nautiluses in Appendix II of CITES. Inclusion in Appendix II would ensure that continued harvest is legal and sustainable.
For more in depth information, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/international/cites/cop17/chambered-nautilus.html
The United States is a proponent or co-proponent of various proposals to help increase protections for species at the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Read more about the species in these quick snapshots, or in more detail on our website.
African pygmy chameleons, popular pets in Europe and the United States, are small insect-eating lizards native to the wet forests of central and eastern Africa. To protect these cryptic lizards from over-exploitation, the United States, along with the Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Kenya, and Nigeria have submitted a proposal to include 21 species of African pygmy chameleons in Appendix II of CITES.
All other chameleon species are already listed in the CITES appendices. In the proposal, seven species are proposed for inclusion in Appendix II because of international trade impacts, while 14 species are proposed for inclusion because of their similarity of appearance to the taxa threatened by trade.
African pygmy chameleons are particularly vulnerable to over harvesting since they have low reproductive rates. Habitat loss and alteration also threaten the species. Inclusion in Appendix II would guarantee that continued harvest is legal and sustainable.
For more in depth information, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/international/cites/cop17/african-pygmy-chameleons.html
The United States is a proponent or co-proponent of various proposals to help increase protections for species at the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Read more about the species in these quick snapshots, or in more detail on our website.
The United States has submitted a proposal for consideration at CITES CoP17 to transfer three U.S. native fishhook cactus species from Appendix II to Appendix I. Blaine's pincushion, New Mexico fishhook cactus, and Siler's fishhook cactus are slow-growing cacti with small population sizes and limited distributions in the southwestern United States. The three species only occur in the United States.
These spiny cylindrical plants have showy flowers that bloom in the spring and range in color from pink to purple to yellow. Fishhook cacti are desirable in the international horticultural market and are sought after particularly for their seeds which are easy to transport from the United States and are not regulated under the CITES Appendix II listing.
Appendix I listing would prohibit commercial trade in wild plants and seeds. This protection is vital since the harvest of seeds and plants can have adverse effects on fishhook cacti regeneration and population growth.
For more in depth information, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/international/cites/cop17/fishhook-cacti.html
CoP17 Species Snapshot: African and Middle Eastern Softshell Turtles
The United States is a proponent or co-proponent of various proposals to help increase protections for species at the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Read more about the species in these quick snapshots, or in more detail on our website.
Prized in Asian food markets for their cartilage (i.e. calipee) and rapid growth rates, softshell turtles are collected, traded and utilized in overwhelming numbers. All softshell turtles are highly aquatic and restricted to freshwater rivers and lakes at low to moderate altitudes.
Freshwater turtles in the Middle East are often killed by fishermen because of perceived competition for fish resources. Softshell turtles are often locally consumed in Africa, however demand for turtles comes principally from Asia where they are prized for food and in traditional medicine. A growing pet trade also impacts a number of threatened species.
The global commerce in turtles in the last 20+ years has followed a well-known pattern in international wildlife trade – once a species is depleted or regulated, the trade shifts to other species that are not as threatened or are less regulated. In addition, with continued human-driven development and population growth, turtle populations around the world face pressure from habitat degradation and loss.
The United States supports a strategic, global approach to freshwater turtle conservation, as evidence shows that when protections for freshwater turtles are strengthened in one region, demand in other regions for unprotected species may increase. In 2013, the U.S. collaborated with international partners to adopt CITES protections for Asian freshwater turtles (including all remaining Asian softshell turtles), and in 2016 protected four of its native freshwater turtles under CITES Appendix III, bringing all North American softshell turtles under CITES protection.
The United States and eight African nations have submitted a proposal to include six species of African and Middle Eastern softshell turtles in Appendix II of CITES. Inclusion in Appendix II would ensure that continued harvest is legal and sustainable and would complete the U.S.-lead strategy to bring the majority of the world’s softshell turtles under the umbrella of CITES protection.
For more in depth information, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/international/cites/cop17/african-and-middle-eastern-softshell-turtles.html
The United States is a proponent or co-proponent of various proposals to help increase protections for species at the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Read more about the species in these quick snapshots, or in more detail on our website.
Devil rays are large fish found in tropical and temperate waters around the world. The horn-shaped fins that inspired their name funnel water into their mouths as they swim, and modified gill plates filter zooplankton and small fish, which are their primary food sources. This makes them a species which truly eats on the run.
Devil rays occasionally form large groups, which makes them susceptible to targeted harvest by fishermen. These species are harvested primarily for their gill plates, which are highly valued in international trade for their use in traditional medicine. Devil ray females produce only one young each pregnancy, making them particularly vulnerable to over-harvest. Females develop and hatch eggs inside their body before giving birth to a single pup after an extended gestation of approximately one year.
The United States, the EU, and 21 other Parties to the CITES treaty have co-sponsored a proposal put forward by Fiji to include all nine species of devil rays in Appendix II of CITES. Inclusion in Appendix II would help ensure that continued harvest is legal and sustainable.
For more in depth information, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/international/cites/cop17/devil-rays.html
The United States is a proponent or co-proponent of various proposals to help increase protections for species at the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Read more about the species in these quick snapshots, or in more detail on our website.
The African Grey parrot is a social and highly intelligent parrot with a remarkable ability to mimic sounds. These endearing traits have led to them being one of the most heavily traded parrot species for the pet trade. It is estimated that over 1 million Grey Parrots have been in international trade since the 1980’s.
And this figure does not account for the estimated 60-90% of birds that die after capture and before export.
Grey Parrots have been wiped-out throughout much of their western range, with declines reaching 90% in some regions, shifting collection pressure eastward into central Africa. Capture for the pet trade is currently the most significant threat to wild populations. While the United States Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA) prohibits the import of wild African grey parrots into the United States, ensuring that pet birds within the United States come from the legal domestic captive breeding and not from the wild, many countries lack such protections for wild birds.
The United States, along with Angola, Chad, the European Union, Gabon, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo support stronger protections for these gregarious birds at the upcoming CITES CoP17 meeting. A CITES Appendix-I listing would halt commercial international trade in the species. For more in depth information, please visit:
