European Union

Highlights for Tuesday, 27 August 2019 Peaceful protest by civil society representatives The first meeting of the Working Group on the post-2020 framework kicked off on Tuesday with expectations of intensive work over four days on the scope and key elements of the structure of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF).Co-Chair Francis Ogwal (Uganda), opened the meeting noting that deliberations from regional and thematic consultations have been invaluable to guiding the way forward for the GBF. Hamdallah Zedan, Ministry of Environment, Egypt, speaking on behalf of CBD COP President Yasmine Fouad, said, “though our task is a daunting one, we are able to rise to the challenge and get on the right path to achieving the 2050 Vision of ‘Living in harmony with nature’.” He emphasized that the development and implementation of the GBF should build on lessons learned from the implementation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and should be informed by scientific knowledge.Quoting Nelson Mandela, CBD Executive Secretary Cristiana Pașca Palmer said, “sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.” She encouraged delegates to be bold, be brave and work together “to bend the curve” towards the 2050 Vision of “living in harmony with nature.”Inger Anderson, UN Environment Programme Executive Director, said the GBF is crucial to arresting biodiversity loss, and that in order to get it right, we need baselines for measuring indicators and to turn towards biodiversity-positive agriculture and biodiversity-rich cities as part of the solution. She suggested an “apex target” to measure overall performance that combines species, genetic and ecosystem diversity.Throughout the day delegates heard reports of consultations and other contributions to the post-2020 process, and discussed potential elements on structure and scope of the post-2020 framework.During lunch, delegates attended an information session aimed at supporting a common approach and common understanding of issues under discussion during the first meeting of the Working Group. This new format, which replaces conventional side-events, is being tested at the current meeting, for consideration in upcoming meetings. Tuesday’s information session focused on strategic planning. Nick Salafsky, Foundations of Success, presented principles of developing a shared strategic planning framework, emphasizing the need to agree on an agile user-friendly approach to developing the GBF, and the development of Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Result-Oriented, and Time-limited (SMART) targets.Delegates entering the first day of the meeting expressed anticipation, as some noted the pressure and enormity of the task for the Working Group. “The world is watching,” one delegate remarked, noting that the urgency to succeed in combating biodiversity loss hangs over “all our heads” this week. Some noted that we cannot afford to fail, and that an ambitious GBF is a prerequisite to the successful transformational changes that society requires. After the Secretariat announced there are only 500 days to complete the GBF process, and that by the second meeting of the Working Group a digital hour glass would monitor the Working Group’s daily progress, a delegate exclaimed, “There is no time to waste!”As the day’s deliberations drew to a close, many delegates appreciated the highly participatory nature of the consultative process of the GBF, noting that it has not only facilitated a broad set of inputs but provided a basis for constructive discussions. Most delegates seemed unperturbed by the strict timing of interventions, noting that the six minutes encouraged wider participation and keeping to the point. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage from the 1st Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen CBD Executive Secretary Cristiana Pașca Palmer Hamdallah Zedan, Representative of the Egypt COP Presidency Working Group Co-Chair Francis Ogwal, Uganda The 1st Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, opens at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi Leina Alwadhi, Kuwait Moustafa Mokhtar Ali Fouda, Egypt Marina von Weissenberg and Stefan Leiner, EU Dilovarsho Dustov, Tajikistan Rosemary Paterson, New Zealand Lucy Mulenkei, International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity Josefa Cariño-Tauli, Global Youth Biodiversity Network Gadir Lavadenz and Nele Marien, CBD Alliance Jane Smart and Sonia Peña, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Maria (Masha) Kalinina, the Pew Charitable Trusts Helena Jeffery Brown, Rapporteur, Antigua and Barbuda IPBES Chair Ana María Hernández Christine Echookit Akello, Rapporteur of the Global Consultation on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in relation to Access and Benefit-sharing and the Nagoya Protocol Fernando Coimbra, Brazil Nick Salafsky, Foundations of Success, during the lunch session on Strategic Planning Frameworks - Part I IPBES Chair Ana María Hernández, and Simone Schiele, IPBES Secretariat Won Seog Park, Chung Ang University, Republic of Korea, and Leejin Kim, Korea Environment Institute Informal meeting outside the plenary room The delegation from Italy The delegation from Finland Participants in discussions before the morning session L-R: Stephenne Harding, National Geographic Society; Catalina Santamaría, Special Advisor to the CBD Executive Secretary; and Alice Jay, National Geographic Society Participants review meeting publications A view of the UNEP headquarters gardens Delegates during the evening reception

Highlights for Tuesday, 27 August 2019 Delegates from the EU huddle during informal consultations. The day began with many firsts as the plenary swiftly completed its morning agenda and entered new territory in the interpretation of Article XVIII on the Resolution of Disputes. The EU, supported by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and opposed by Costa Rica, requested to reopen discussion on the Committee’s decision to accept the draft amendments to Resolution Conf. 11.20 (Rev. CoP17) concerning trade in live wild-caught elephants.While supporting the intent of the original proponents, the EU noted areas of concern and suggested several amendments to ensure: provisions for ex situ to ex situ movement of older animals originally from the wild, scrutiny by relevant CITES scientific and management authorities, and under exceptional circumstances or emergencies, transfer of wild animals to ex situ destinations.Zimbabwe, supported by eSwatini, Zambia, Namibia, and other southern African countries, invoked Article XVIII of the Convention, declaring a dispute with the proponents of the originally proposed amendments and the EU, arguing that the proposed amendments were a “backdoor attempt” to amend the annotation to Appendix II-listed African elephants. The Secretariat suggested that the dispute be addressed following a vote on the EU’s proposed amendments, noting that this was the first time in the history of the Convention that this mechanism had been invoked. The Chair adjourned the morning session early to discuss this issue.At the beginning of the afternoon session, Zimbabwe expressed concern that their dispute had not been adequately addressed in the course of debate. The EU reiterated that their proposed amendments represent a positive and transparent way forward until further work is concluded and the issue revisited at CoP19. The Secretariat explained that Zimbabwe’s dispute concerned a proposal, rather than a decision that had been taken and thus advised that the CoP move forward with a vote. The CoP voted to adopt the amendments proposed by the EU, with 87 in favor and 25 against.The CoP adopted many listings proposals during the afternoon, as put forward by Committee I. Indonesia expressed concern that implementing the otter and Tokay gecko listings will require national processes that will involve time and resources, with up to 18 months required to implement the decision. She requested her statement be recorded.Costa Rica moved to open the debate on an Appendix II listing of glass frogs. Supported by India, Mali, Kenya, and Qatar, he expressed concern that many countries had not been present when the vote was taken. The EU argued that the listing would not be enforceable, as there are more than 104 species, and they are morphologically indistinguishable. The CoP voted on the proposal, with the result that 64.3% of Parties supported the listing, not reaching the two-thirds majority required to list glass frogs in Appendix II.The CoP adopted many proposals on administrative and strategic matters, as well as on interpretation and implementation of the Convention. Chair Hoover, upon the completion of Committee II’s agenda items, noted that all of these items had been decided through consensus. He expressed gratitude for the Committee’s great spirit of collaboration and compromise, both of which, he argued, are key strengths of the Convention.The plenary will continue to discuss Committee I agenda items on Wednesday, the final day of CITES CoP18. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from CITES CoP18. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Morning Plenary The room is full as delegates reconvene in plenary. CITES CoP18 Chair Thomas Jemmi, Switzerland CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero Committee II Chair Craig Hoover, US Committee I Chair Rod Hay, New Zealand Seyni Abdoul-Aziz, Niger, speaking on behalf of the African region Shereefa Al-Salem, Kuwait, speaking on behalf of the Asian region Sarah Bagnall, New Zealand, speaking on behalf of the Oceania region Jessica Maria Gálvez-Durand Besnard, Peru, speaking on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean region Carolina Caceres, Canada, speaking on behalf of the North American region João Loureiro, Portugal, speaking on behalf of the European region Delegates applaud the nomination of regional representatives and the work done by various committee members. Jorge Rodríguez Romero, EU Munesushe Munodawafa, Zimbabwe Patrick Omondi, Kenya Anton Mezhnev, Russian Federation Pohamba Shifeta, Namibia Misozi Ngulube, Zambia South Africa calls a point of order during the discussions. After Zimbabwe declares a dispute over the proposed amendments to a resolution on the matter of live trade in African elephants, members of the CITES Secretariat consult on the way forward, to ensure compliance with procedures outlined in the Convention. Members of the EU consult. Members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) consult. Afternoon Plenary View of the dais during the session: David Morgan, CITES Secretariat; Committee II Chair Craig Hoover, US; CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero; Awilo Ochieng Pernet, Alternate CoP Chair; CITES CoP 18 Chair Thomas Jemmi, Switzerland; Bruno Mainini, Switzerland; Committee I Chair Rod Hay, New Zealand; and Tom De Meulenaer, CITES Secretariat. David Morgan, CITES Secretariat Naohisa Okuda, Japan Delegates vote on three proposals during plenary. The plenary adopts the EU's proposals regarding trade in live elephants, with 87 in favor and 29 against, allowing trade only in exceptional circumstances. Blanca Alicia Mendoza Vera, Mexico Bandar Al-Faleh, Saudi Arabia After Costa Rica re-opened the discussions on glass frogs, the number of votes do not meet the two-thirds majority required to include them in Appendix II. Delegates take photos of the voting results as they are displayed on the screen. Carlos Mario Orrego Vásquez, Costa Rica Calvin Bernard, Guyana Ghanim Abdulla Mohammed, Qatar Bourama Niagate, Mali Eugène Lapointe, IWMC World Conservation Trust Alejandra Goyenechea, Defenders of Wildlife Around the Venue Delegates from South Africa consult with the CITES Secretariat. Delegates from Chile and Argentina. Will Travers, Survival Species Network (SSN) consults with a delegate. CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero Adam Cruise, African Elephant Journal, conducts an interview with the media. Delegates from Gabon. Delegates from Angola. Delegates from France. Delegates from Papua New Guinea. Delegates from Afghanistan. Volunteers working at CoP18. Delegates consult informally.

Highlights for Tuesday, 27 August 2019 Long-legged spider crab from Cuba, photo by Marcelo Halpern The third session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) met in an informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs). Delegates also met in three “informal-informals” to continue discussing aspects related to environmental impact assessments (EIAs), marine genetic resources (MGRs), including questions on the sharing of benefits, and cross-cutting issues. In their discussions, delegates broached what some have characterized as “sticky” issues. Highlights of the day included: Informal-informals on EIAs, which focused on cumulative and transboundary impacts; Informal-informals on MGRs, especially addressing intellectual property rights within the new High Seas agreement;  Informal-informals on cross-cutting issues, specifically related to financial resources; and Discussions in the informal working group on ABMTs, including MPAs, related to the proponent and content of ABMT proposals. In the corridors, some were concerned that “we have forgotten why we are here,” noting the need for the new High Seas agreement to conserve marine biodiversity and, in many cases, give it a chance to regenerate. “Look up from the text,” urged one delegate, emphasizing that the existing governance regime is “fragmented and not fit for purpose,” and rallying delegates to adopt a strong High Seas treaty to address the current gaps.For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from BBNJ IGC-3. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Informal Working Group Alice Revell, New Zealand, Facilitator of the informal working group on ABMTs, including MPAs Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) Janine Coye-Felson, Belize, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM ) Alain Tellier, Canada Teresa Cruz Sardiñas, Cuba Ramon van Barneveld, EU Ana Villalobos, Costa Rica Saravanane Narayanane, India Sarah Weiss Ma'udi, Israel Hussain Sinan, Maldives Delegates from New Zealand in consultation Jean Kenfack, Cameroon Huang Yingni, China Matthías Pálsson, Iceland Alex Macdonald, New Zealand Kjell Kristian Egge, Norway Kristina Gjerde, IUCN Florian Botto, Monaco Desirée Eve Maaño, the Philippines Takehiro Nakamura, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Aysecan Crabtree, Turkey Milinda Gunetilleke, Sri Lanka Sira Swangsilpa, Thailand Willington Rentería, Ecuador Ryan Keightley, Australia L-R: IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore; Alice Revell, New Zealand, Facilitator of the informal working group on ABMTs, including MPAs; and Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS L-R: Generoso Calonge, the Philippines, conferrring with Desirée Eve Maaño, the Philippines L-R: Matthías Pálsson, Iceland, in conversation with Susan Whelan, Holy See Participants from the Strong High Seas Project

Highlights for Monday, 26 August 2019 Members of the Secretariat consult on the dais during the consultations in Committee II. The Committees spent their final day in committee finalizing agenda items and working group reports, as the CoP will convene in plenary once more on Tuesday.Committee II engaged in a substantial discussion concerning the CITES Secretariat report on Asian big cats. The Secretariat summarized that progress was made on the review of facilities of concern with Asian big cats in captivity, but that missions still need to be sent to scrutinize some of these operations. She added that the document covers the need to address organized crime networks, and noted the big cats task force, proposed at CoP18, will help to support parties to address some of these issues in trade in Asian big cat parts and derivatives.India presented the draft decisions and combined amendments made by his delegation, reminding parties that the success of tiger conservation efforts is dependent on global enforcement. Bhutan, supported by Bolivia, stated that captive tiger facilities must be closed and supported India’s proposed amended document. Niger, along with Ethiopia, noted that this trade is fueling demand for African lion parts, suggesting that CITES should prioritize reducing demand for big cats as a whole.The WWF, on behalf of multiple NGOs, noted some progress on tiger conservation from strengthened legislation and enforcement efforts but that commercial tiger farming operations threaten conservation progress as they stimulate demand, in part because consumers prefer parts from wild tigers and other big cat species. Committee II agreed to the draft decisions as amended.Costa Rica, with co-sponsors Peru and Mexico, introduced a document on jaguars, noting increased international demand for teeth, skin and bones through illegal trade, and urging the Committee to adopt three related decisions to map the illegal trade in jaguar. Peru, the US, Bolivia, Brazil, Suriname, and Colombia, on behalf of several Latin American and Caribbean states, supported the draft decisions. China, supported by Creative Conservation Solutions, proposed expanding the study to also assess threats such as competing land-use activities, human-jaguar conflicts, and local traditional use. The Committee agreed to the proposal.Other issues addressed in Committee II included the illegal trade in totoaba swim bladders and the impact on vaquita, enforcement measures to crack down on trade in rhino horn, and a move to examine the taxonomy and nomenclature of pangolins.In Committee I, delegates considered a long list of proposals, including a range of “charismatic” and “spectacular” reptiles and amphibians including lizards, iguana and the spider-tailed horned viper, many of which were endorsed to receive Appendix I or II protections. The EU, with India, the Philippines, and the US as co-proponents, introduced a proposal to include the Tokay gecko in Appendix II, highlighting the high levels of international trade and reports of local extinctions caused by overcollection. Several range states, including China, Vietnam and Thailand, opposed the proposal, arguing that the species does not meet the criteria for an Appendix II listing, given that it is common in many Asian range states and that captive breeding has been successful in meeting demand for the species. Committee I voted to adopt the proposal, with 103 in favor and 17 against.Both committees ended the day with a sense of occasion. In Committee 1, delegates joined Chair Hay in a Maori song to close the event, while in Committee II, delegates burst into applause as Chair Hoover noted that drafts on rhinos and elephants had been produced without the need to set up additional working groups. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from CITES CoP18. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Committee I: Species-Specific Matters Chair Rod Hay, New Zealand Tricia Lovell, Antigua and Barbuda Armida Andres, the Philippines Javad Amin-Mansour, Iran Cornelius Richards, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Andrew Adejo, Nigeria José Alberto Alvarez Lemus, Cuba Alwin Dornelly, Saint Lucia Nero Cunha Ferreira, Brazil Delegates vote to protect the Tokay gecko by uplisting it to Appendix II. María Elena Sánchez Saldaña, Species Survival Network (SSN) Dominic Whitmee, European Pet Organisation José Julián Suazo Cervantes, Honduras Ken Farr, Canada In a moving address to Committee I, Chair Rod Hay, New Zealand, thanks delegates for their work in addressing all 56 proposals presented to CITES, and invites them to join him in a traditional Maori song, supported by his friends and colleagues from the Oceania region. Chair Rod Hay, New Zealand (center), thanks Karen Gaynor and Tom De Meulenaer, CITES Secretariat, for their assistance and friendship throughout the meeting. Committee II: Interpretation and Implementation Matters Delegates gather for the discussions on interpretation and implementation matters. Anup Kumar Nayak, India Mohammed Shafiul Alam Chowdhury, Bangladesh Catherine Pruett, Sea Shepherd Legal Vuong Tien Manh, Viet Nam Robby Achirul, Indonesia Juan Enrique Iglesias García, Ecuador Martin Rose, Austria Shirley Ramirez, Costa Rica Bernardo Martinez, Chile Carly Cowell, United Kingdom Joaquín de la Torre Ponce, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Susanne Breitkopf, Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Around the Venue Delegates speak informally before the sessions begin. Delegates from Sri Lanka Delegates from Peru Delegates from India consult with the Secretariat. Delegates discuss a document.

Highlights for Monday, 26 August 2019 Horse eye jacks from Cuba, photo by Marcelo Halpern The third session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) met throughout the day on Monday, 26 August 2019, in informal working groups on capacity building and the transfer of marine technology (CB&TT), and on cross-cutting issues. Delegates also met in two closed-door “informal-informals,” to discuss aspects related to environmental impact assessments (EIAs), and area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs).For the better part of the day, they considered types of CB&TT, whether and where to include a potential list of these activities in the new High Seas agreement, as well as matters related to monitoring and review, definitions, and the list over types of CB&TT in the annex. They also considered, as part of CB&TT, the clearing-house mechanism, discussing the types and functions of such a mechanism. Highlights of the day included, among others: Informal-informals on EIAs, which focused on matters regarding monitoring, reporting, and review; Informal-informals on ABMTs, including MPAs, focusing on the objectives of ABMTs as well as aspects related to monitoring and review;  Discussions in the informal working group on CB&TT, on aspects of a clearing-house mechanism, specifically the types and modalities of such a mechanism; and Discussions in the informal working group on cross-cutting issues, addressing other aspects of the clearing-house mechanism. In the corridors, one exasperated developing country delegate was adamant about the need for “hard rules to guide capacity building and the transfer of marine technology” for the effective implementation of the new High Seas treaty, adding that CB&TT needs to be understood as being driven by developing countries. Commenting on the closed-door sessions, another delegate opined that “the format and time constraints prevent us from addressing crucial linkages,” still remaining optimistic that “we will get there.”For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from BBNJ IGC-3. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Informal Working Group Olai Uludong, Palau, Facilitator of the informal working group on CB&TT L-R: Alice Hicuburundi, Jessica Howley, and Lika Diouf, UN Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) Kimberly Louis, Saint Lucia, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM ) Ana Elizabeth Villaita Vizcorra, El Salvador, on behalf of the Like-Minded Latin American Countries Sunan Rustam, Indonesia Terje Lobach, Norway Tetsuya Yoshimoto, Japan Oleg Rykov, Russian Federation Evan Bloom, US Marco D'Alessandro, Switzerland Amanda Richards, New Zealand Fuad Bateh, Palestine, on behalf of the G-77/China L-R: Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, in conversation with Mohamed Lamine Sidibé, Guinea Generoso Calonge, the Philippines Sujin Seo, Republic of Korea Harriet Harden-Davies, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) Fakasoa Tealei, Tuvalu, on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (P-SIDS) Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb, International Council of Environmental Law Blaise Kuemlangan, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Yang Liu, China Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria, on behalf of the African Group Katie Hamilton, Australia Carl Grainger, EU IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore, and Facilitator of the informal working group on Cross-Cutting Issues Olai Uludong, Palau, Facilitator of the informal working group on CB&TT L-R: Olai Uludong, Palau, Facilitator of the informal working group on CB&TT, Joan Yang, Nauru; and Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS Delegates from Belize in consultation L-R: Gemma Andreone, Italy, and Eva Vázquez, Spain IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore, with UNDOALOS Secretariat staff and UNDOALOS Fellows IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore, with delegates from Nigeria Closed-door informal-informals

Highlights for Sunday, 25 August 2019 A mako shark makes an intervention as the second week of CITES CoP18 begins. Committee I began the morning under the sea, with the consideration of proposals on mako sharks, guitarfishes, wedgefishes and sea cucumbers.Mexico introduced the proposal to include Shortfin mako sharks and Longfin mako sharks in Appendix II. Co-proponents Gabon, Costa Rica, EU, and others stressed that the current scientific evidence available makes clear the urgent need for regulation, recognizing that existing voluntary sustainable use measures, including those of regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), are ineffective. New Zealand, Antigua and Barbuda, Malaysia, Japan, and others opposed this listing on the basis that global Mako shark populations are more robust than suggested by the proponents, pointing to the conclusions of a recent Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) report. In a secret ballot, Committee I adopted the proposal, with 102 in favor and 40 against.Senegal introduced the proposal to list guitarfishes under Appendix II given declines caused by widespread and largely unmanaged fisheries. Fiji, Nigeria, Comoros, the US, and others supported the proposal, highlighting the need for trade regulation. St. Kitts and Nevis, Japan, and Malaysia opposed it, with Malaysia and China asking for secret ballot voting. In a secret ballot, Committee I voted to adopt the proposal, with 109 in favor and 30 against.Sri Lanka introduced the proposal to list wedgefishes in Appendix II, arguing that an Appendix II listing would raise awareness of the species’ vulnerability and facilitate greater regional cooperation to ensure sustainable use. Egypt, Fiji, Kenya, and other co-proponents argued that an Appendix II listing would have important conservation benefits given the high value of wedgefish fins in international trade. Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan opposed the proposal, pointing to the inconclusive data on the status of global wedgefish stocks, as found by an FAO expert panel report, and the significant implementation challenges implicated by an Appendix II listing. In a secret ballot, Committee I voted to adopt the proposal, with 112 in favor and 30 against.In the afternoon, delegates considered proposals on otters, southern white rhino, and mammoths, among others.Committee II meanwhile discussed pangolins, the African grey parrot, and tortoises and freshwater turtles, among other matters. The Committee considered a proposal for pangolin range States to develop in situ conservation and management programs, and for the Secretariat to develop conversion parameters that will enable reliable determination of the number of animals associated with the quantity of pangolin scales seized. Several Parties highlighted the large seizures of illegally traded pangolin in recent months, and China reported that pangolin scales from its seizures are now available for controlled use in designated hospitals and through registered doctors. Many expressed support for conservation activities in range States, and some also called for increased enforcement and demand-reduction activities.The Plants Committee presented its work on developing a definition of the term ‘artificially propagated’, and Parties in Committee II welcomed the introduction of a new source code ‘Y’ to refer to the assisted production of plants that are neither ‘artificially propagated’ nor ‘wild’, as they are propagated or planted in an environment with some level of human intervention. Georgia noted the new source code would benefit the trade in snowdrop bulbs, which grow in areas where maize and hazelnut are cultivated, supporting rural livelihoods. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from CITES CoP18. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Committee I: Species-Specific Matters Delegates gather in plenary as mako sharks, guitarfishes, and otters, among others, are discussed. Rodrigo Medellin, Mexico Pamela Mace, New Zealand Aurélie Flore Koumba, Gabon Daven Joseph, Antigua and Barbuda Ashley Dias, Seychelles Colin Simpfendorfer, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Rebecca Regnery, Humane Society International Joshua Wycliffe, Fiji Delegates vote on six proposals throughout the day. Delegates vote in favor of uplisting mako sharks to Appendix II following a two-thirds majority. Delegates record the results of the votes as they are displayed on the screen. Adalheidur Thorsteindottir, Iceland Lawrence Kissol, Malaysia Nicho Gowep, Papua New Guinea Kim Friedman, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Committee II: Interpretation and Implementation Matters Delegates gather in Committee II as discussions on interpretation and implementation continue. Dennis Kyabwasi Ikanda, Tanzania Blamah Sando Goll, Liberia Peter Paul van Dijk, Nomenclature Specialist Hank Jenkins, Creative Conservation Solutions Bandar Al-Faleh, Saudi Arabia Lise Jubinville, Canada Laura Noguchi, US He Jingxin, China CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero Duangduen Sripotar, Thailand Sri Ratnaningsih, Indonesia Damian Wrigley, Australia Obaid Ali Al Shamsi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Around the Venue Sofie Flensborg and Karen Gaynor, CITES Secretariat, speak with CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero in the corridors. Joaquín de la Torre Ponce, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and José Funes, environmental lawyer Hesiquio Benítez Díaz, Mexico, speaks with Jorge Rodríguez Romero, EU Peter Fredrick Moll, World Leaders of Today, speaks with Susan Lieberman, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Delegates from eSwatini Tom De Meulenaer and Daniel Kachelriess, CITES Secretariat A delegate visits the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) website to keep track of the negotiations. Delegates between sessions. Delegates from the Pacific region consult in the corridors.