Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP16)

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

In the morning, Committee II reconvened to complete outstanding agenda items, including, among others, great apes, Asian big cats and budget. The Plenary met shortly after and proceeded to adopt reports and decisions from Committee I and II.

The CoP adopted listing proposals on: Abruzzo chamois, New Zealand green geckos, Mangshan pit-viper, Roti Island snake-necked turtle; spotted turtle; Blanding’s turtle, diamondback terrapin, freshwater box turtles, big-headed turtles, Burmese star tortoise and softshell turtles, among others.

Thailand, supported by Ecuador and Cambodia, requested reopening the proposal on the Siamese crocodile. The motion to re-open the discussion was carried, with 48 in favor, 74 against and 16 abstentions, reaching the 1/3 majority needed. After discussion, the CoP voted on the proposal, which was rejected, with 57 in favor, 70 against and 11 abstentions.

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Tuesday, 12 March 2013

In the morning, CITES Secretary-General John Scanlon exchanged the Maldives non-party plaque for a party plaque, welcoming them as a party to CITES. The Maldives informed delegates that his country had conserved many species of flora and fauna before becoming a party, including banning trade and imports of endangered species. He said the Maldives looked forward to working with the CITES community to achieve full compliance of the Convention.

Committee I continued and completed its work on proposals to amend the Appendices. Committee II addressed, inter alia: humphead wrasse, elephants and rhinoceroses.

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Friday, 8 March 2013

On Friday, Committee I heard reports on the progress of working groups on queen conch and IPBES. It then resumed its consideration of amendments to the appendices, including, among others, proposals on turtles, crocodiles and amphibians.

Committee II considered rhinoceros, great apes and illegal trade in cheetahs. It suspended discussions on Asian big cats to address new amendments to the draft decisions.

Working groups continued their efforts throughout the day, meeting to deliberate on the budget, among other things.

On Saturday, participants will have the opportunity to explore Thailand through CITES-organized field trips.

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Thursday, 7 March 2013

In the morning, Committee I reviewed proposals for the transfer from Appendix I to Appendix II of the Abruzzo chamois and the vicuña, which were both accepted. The transfer of polar bears from Appendix II to Appendix I and an alternate proposal to annotate the current Appendix II listing were not accepted. Committee II discussed reports from the Secretariat and TRAFFIC on monitoring the illegal killing of elephants (MIKE) and the elephant trade information system (ETIS). Committee II suspended discussion on these two agenda items and formed working groups that are expected to report back on Friday, 8 March. Committee II then addressed the proposed new resolution concerning the African Elephant Action Plan and African Elephant Fund.

In the afternoon, Committee I considered more proposals to amend the appendices, including the proposal to uplist the West African manatee, which was accepted. Committee II continued discussions on elephants, including a decision-making mechanism and, among other things, revised and voted to accept resolutions and decisions on introduction from the sea.

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Wednesday, 6 March 2013

In the morning, Committee I reviewed proposals for the transfer from Appendix I to Appendix II of the Abruzzo chamois and the vicuña, which were both accepted. The transfer of polar bears from Appendix II to Appendix I and an alternate proposal to annotate the current Appendix II listing were not accepted. Committee II discussed reports from the Secretariat and TRAFFIC on monitoring the illegal killing of elephants (MIKE) and the elephant trade information system (ETIS). Committee II suspended discussion on these two agenda items and formed working groups that are expected to report back on Friday, 8 March. Committee II then addressed the proposed new resolution concerning the African Elephant Action Plan and African Elephant Fund.

In the afternoon, Committee I considered more proposals to amend the appendices, including the proposal to uplist the West African manatee, which was accepted. Committee II continued discussions on elephants, including a decision-making mechanism and, among other things, revised and voted to accept resolutions and decisions on introduction from the sea.

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Tuesday, 5 March 2013

In the morning, participants convened in an extraordinary plenary to discuss the Rules of Procedure. The work of the Committees resumed before lunch. Committee I discussed saiga antelope and snakes. Committee II reviewed CITES resolutions. During lunch the Working Group on Rules of Procedure met.

In the afternoon, Committee I resumed discussions on snake trade and conservation. It then reviewed: sharks and stingrays; queen conch; and Madagascar. The Committee also began consideration of agarwood-producing taxa.

Committee II addressed: the review of resolutions; conflicts of interest; the CITES Strategic Vision; cooperation with other multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and with other biodiversity-related conventions; and the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC). Discussions on arrangements for meetings were deferred to Wednesday, and an informal group on sturgeon was formed in anticipation of discussions next week. Working groups were also formed on the queen conch and conflicts of interest.

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Monday, 4 March 2013

In the morning, ministers and high-level representatives convened for the roundtable on combating transnational organized wildlife and forest crime.

In the afternoon, participants met in Committees. Committee I addressed resolutions and decisions on: cooperation with the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES); climate change; non-detriment findings (NDFs); and standard nomenclature. Committee II addressed financing and budgeting of the Secretariat and the CoP.

As well as scheduled meetings, various side events were held during the lunch break. A joint Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)-CITES side event on “The Saiga Antelope: Challenges and Opportunities for Conservation and Sustainable Use," co-hosted by China, the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, discussed the threats faced by the species. The GRASP report, "Stolen Apes: The Illicit Trade in Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Bonobos and Orangutans," was introduced in a side event moderated by Ofir Drori, Doug Cress, and Ian Redmond. A side event was also held on “Ending Tiger Trade: A Call for Implementation,” hosted by the Born Free Foundation, Environmental Investigation Agency and Wildlife Protection Society of India, to address trade in tigers and other Asian big cats.

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Sunday, 3 March 2013

The sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP16) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) convened in the morning in Bangkok, Thailand. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister, Thailand, officially opened the meeting. She highlighted Thailand’s commitment to the Convention and to enhancing cooperation in conservation and in combatting illegal trade. John Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General, welcomed over 2000 registered participants from over 150 countries, including more than 200 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and intergovernmental organizations. Highlighting that “we know the way, but we need the collective will,” he called upon parties to take action on addressing wildlife crime, among other issues. In a video statement, His Royal Highness Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, called for parties to work together to reverse the “current alarming trends” in the illegal killing of African elephants and rhinos and the surge in illegal trade of ivory.

A variety of artists then presented a multimedia art performance called “Balance: Sustainable,” consisting of music, dance, video and sand art, on the theme of wildlife trade and conservation.

In the afternoon, the CoP addressed possible changes to the Rules of Procedure, among different administrative and strategic matters. Noting the lack of consensus on the issue, the Chair deferred further discussions to a later date.

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