SPECIES PROPOSALSssn.org/Meetings/cop/cop18/SSN_CoP18_Digest_EN.pdf 1 PIPPPPA Analysis of the Proposals to Amend Appendices I and II A PI I To be discussed at the 18th Conference of

SPECIES PROPOSALSPages 1-30

WORKING DOCUMENTSPages 31-76

August 2019

Dear Delegates and Colleagues:

On behalf of the global family of Member Organizations of the Species Survival Network, I am pleased to share with you SSN’s Digest, our summary and analysis of the documents to be considered at the 18th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, here in Geneva, Switzerland.

CoP18 promises to be a landmark meeting. Parties will debate, deliberate and decide on more than 160 documents, covering issues of crucial importance at a time when the world’s wild fauna and flora face unprecedented pressure from a human population that is 3 billion more than it was when CITES was enacted, 45 years ago.

We believe that this Digest will provide Parties, as well the media and civil society, with easy access to the information and analysis they need, both to facilitate a well-informed debate, and to reach the best possible outcomes.

We encourage Party representatives to take advantage of the provisions of CITES to do their utmost to protect wild species from the excesses of unsustainable trade, and to remember that when we improve the survival prospects of wild species we safeguard the welfare of the vulnerable human communities that depend on them. We urge Parties, too, to recognize that where live trade is involved, the welfare of every living individual must be a key priority.

Together with all my SSN colleagues, I wish you every success and commend your efforts on behalf of the species we all seek to conserve.

Will Travers OBEPresident, Species Survival Network

1w w w . s s n . o r g

SPECIES/PROPONENT/PROPOSAL CURRENT STATUS OF SPECIES SSN VIEWAnalysis of the Proposals to Amend Appendices I and II To be discussed at the 18th Conference of the Parties to CITES, Geneva, Switzerland, 17-28 August 2019

Prepared by the Species Survival NetworkAbbreviations used: RC=Resolution Conf. • CoP=Conference of the Parties • SC=Standing Committee • AC=Animals Committee

PC=Plants Committee • References cited available upon request

Prop. 1

Heptner's markhorCapra falconeri heptneri

TajikistanTransfer Tajikistan’s population from Appendix I to II

Prop. 2

Saiga antelopeSaiga tatarica

• Distribution: Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; proposal refers only to Tajikistan population.

• Population: Subspecies not assessed by IUCN (2014); species, C. falco-neri, Near Threatened (id.); C. f. heptneri: Afghanistan,10 observed in 2011; Tajikistan, 1,300 in one area and 8 in another; Turkmenistan, no recent popu-lation estimate but 303 in 2002; Uzbekistan, 313 in 2013; total population estimated at 1,008 mature individuals in 2013 (IUCN 2014).

• Threats: In Tajikistan, poaching for meat, skins, horns, illegal trophy hunting leading to low population of adult males, poor habitat quality due to fuel wood collection and intensive grazing.

• Trade: CITES trade data available only for C. falconeri; exports from Tajikistan (2007-2016): 8 trophies from wild source for hunting purposes.

• Distribution: Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; extirpated in China and Ukraine.

• Population: Critically Endangered (IUCN 2018); population has shown an observed and ongoing decline of over 80% over the last 10 years.

• Threats: Illegal hunting for horns and meat for national and interna-tional trade; habitat loss; climatic events; disease. Horns are main target of poaching, leading to skewed sex ratios, reproductive collapse, and popula-tion decline.

• Trade: Most commonly used horn products are bottled ‘fresh’ saiga water, shavings, bottled ‘supermarket’ saiga water and tablets; from 1995-2004, 87,449 kilograms of horn were exported to China, Singapore and Japan; in 2010-2014, 224 incidents of illegal hunting recorded in Kazakhstan, and 8,594 horns were confiscated. Disease-related mortality event in 2015-16 resulted in the deaths of more than two-thirds of the global population at that time.

OPPOSE

• Life history characteristics make this species highly vulnerable to over-utilization: average age at first birth 18-30 months, gestation 135-170 days, gives birth to 1-2 kids, lives up to 13 years.

• Split-listing of species could give rise to enforcement problems and should be avoided (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 3).

� Continues to meet criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17)), Annex 1, paras. A and B): traded internationally wild popu-lation is small (<< 5000) restricted area of distribution occurrence at very few locations (majority of individuals in 2 populations) high vulnerability to intrinsic factors

SUPPORT

• Proposal relies on updated taxonomy recognizing only one saiga spe-cies (Saiga tatarica); CITES currently recognizes two species (S. tatarica and S. borealis, both Appendix II). Effect of proposal would be to include all saiga on Appendix I.

• Despite voluntary bans or moratoria on hunting and international trade in all range States by 2015, international trade continues among con-sumer non-range States, allowing the laundering of poached specimens.

• Singapore claims to have a large stockpile of horns (China is also believed to have significant stockpiles, though volume is unknown); stockpiles could fuel demand.

• High volumes of international trade in Singapore, China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, and Malaysia.

SPECIES/PROPONENT/PROPOSAL CURRENT STATUS OF SPECIES SSN VIEW

ContinuedContinued

2 SPECIES/PROPONENT/PROPOSAL CURRENT STATUS OF SPECIES SSN VIEW

Mongolia and USA

Transfer from Appendix II to I

Prop. 3

VicuñaVicugna vicugna

Argentina

Transfer the population of the Province of Salta (Argentina) from Appendix I to II with annotation 1

Prop. 4

VicuñaVicugna vicugna

Chile

• Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru; proposal for Argentina popu-lation only.

• Population: Least Concern (IUCN 2018); minimum estimated number of vicuña present in the province of Salta in 2018 is 58,387 individuals.

• Threats: Poaching for the international market.

• Trade: Gross exports from Argentina, 2012-2017: ~4,695 kg fibres, ~8,510 kg hair.

• Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru; proposal for Chile population only.

• Population: Least Concern (IUCN 2018).

• Threats: Poaching for the international market.

• Trade: Gross exports from Chile, 2012-2017: ~128 kg fibres; ~68 kg hair.

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, para. C): traded internationally significant population decline fluctuations in population size prone to large die-offs caused by disease poached for horns and meat

NO OPINION

SUPPORT

• Proposal recognizes administrative change in the name of the region in Chile; it does not affect the scope of the listing.

Continued Continued

Continued



Amend the name of the population of Chile from “population of Primera Region” to “populations of the region of Tarapaca and of the region of Arica and Parinacota”

Prop. 5

GiraffeGiraffa camelopardalis

Central African Republic, Chad, Kenya, Mali, Niger and Senegal

Include in Appendix II

Prop. 6

Small-clawed otterAonyx cinereus

India, Nepal and the Philippines


SUPPORT

• Giraffes used locally for traditional cultural purposes and bushmeat; bushmeat traded regionally; very large international trade for commer-cial purposes in bones used for carvings and gun and knife handles, skins used for numerous products (such as pillows); on average 374 giraffe trophies per annum are imported to the USA alone.

• Direct evidence of international trade in all giraffe subspecies,1 including from countries where populations Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, decreasing and/or small.

• Proposal supported by the 32 African countries that are members of the African Elephant Coalition.2

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP16), Annex 2a, para. B): high level of international trade all subspecies affected by international trade trade exacerbates impact of other threats low reproductive output (generation time 10 years, 15-month gestation period, typically one calf is born)

SUPPORT

• Trade as pets is a growing threat; popular in pet trade due to small size; highest demand in Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia.4,5,6

• Much trade is online for live animals from the wild; captive-bred speci-mens cannot meet demand.

• Occasionally on sale in European pet markets, including Netherlands and Spain, with prices ranging from € 600-1,500 each.7

• Appendix I listing would improve CITES enforcement for similar Appendix I otters (such as Lutra lutra) due to difficulty in distinguishing between skins of different species.

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, para. C(ii)): internationally traded marked decline inferred high levels of exploitation high vulnerability to extrinsic factors (high levels of poaching)

• Distribution: Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe; extirpated in Eritrea, Guinea, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal; likely extirpated in Mali.

• Population: Vulnerable (IUCN 2018); observed, past (and ongoing) population decline of 36-40% over 3 generations (30 years, 1985-2015); population estimate is 68,293 mature individuals, declining; 5 of 9 sub-species threatened: 2 Critically Endangered, 1 Endangered, 2 Vulnerable (id.); populations scattered and fragmented.

• Threats: Habitat loss, civil unrest, poaching, ecological changes.

• Trade: From 2006-2015, 39,516 giraffe specimens imported to USA, equivalent to at least 3,751 individual giraffes, with 99.7% of specimens from wild sources; most commonly imported items were bone carv-ings, bones, trophies, skin pieces, bone pieces, skins and jewelry; legal hunting of giraffes occurs in parts of southern Africa.

• Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Province of China, Thailand, Viet Nam.

• Population: Vulnerable (IUCN 2015); >30% decline over past 30 years on top of large historical decline; disappeared or declined in many parts of range: e.g. dramatic population decline in China, decreased distribution in India and Southeast Asia.

• Threats: Habitat loss; pollution; overfishing; intentional kills by fishermen as alleged pests; trapping and poaching for pelts, pets and traditional medi-cine; climate change.

• Trade: 1980-2018, >250 seizures representing 6,010 individual Asian otters; most seizures not identified to species level, but 383 identified as A. cinereus, including 127 live specimens; 99% of seizures were of skins; main market for skins and pelts is China; study in four Asian countries docu-mented 560 online advertisements for live otters, 98% for A. cinereus.3

Continued


Prop. 7

Smooth-coated otterLutrogale perspicillata

Bangladesh, India and Nepal


Prop. 8

Southern white rhinocerosCeratotherium simum simum

Eswatini

“Remove the annotation to the Appendix II listing of Eswatini’s population of Southern white rhinoceros so as to enable Eswatini to realise full Appendix II status for its white rhinos to permit commercial trade in Eswatini’s white rhinos and their products, including horn and derivatives.”

SUPPORT

• Poaching and illegal trade pose serious and increasing threats to L. perspicillata.

• Demand for live young otters for pet trade is increasing; highest in Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia.8,9,10

• App. I listing would improve enforcement for similar Appendix I otters (such as Lutra lutra) due to difficulty in distinguishing between skins of different species.

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, para. C(ii)): internationally traded marked decline inferred high levels of exploitation high vulnerability to extrinsic factors (high levels of poaching)

OPPOSE

• Effect of removing Annotation:

--Species would be listed on Appendix II for Eswatini, allowing exports of any specimens for any purpose, including horn for commercial purposes; and

--Risks encouraging horn consumption, undermining international and domestic bans on trade and demand reduction programs (including in major consumer countries), and complicating enforcement; would facilitate laundering illegal horn, placing all rhino populations at increased risk.

• Proposal provides no evidence of any anticipated positive impact on rhino conservation.

• Proposal provides no detail on how legal trade would operate, who trad-ing partners would be, how retailers would be licensed or how legal horn from Eswatini would be distinguished from illegal horn from other sources to prevent laundering.

• Eswatini remains in Category 3 of CITES National Legislation Project; Eswatini’s legislation is believed generally not to meet the requirements for the implementation of CITES.

• Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Viet Nam.

• Population: Vulnerable (IUCN 2015); >30% decline over past 30 years; extirpated in China; depleted in Bangladesh; declining in Pakistan.

• Threats: Poaching for pelts, pets and traditional medicine; habitat loss; pollution; overfishing; increased aquaculture and conflicts with fishermen (killings); introduced diseases.

• Trade: >6,000 Asian otters seized in recent decades, almost half in India; most seizures not identified to species level, but 90 identified as L. perspicil-lata, including 25 live specimens; actual number likely much higher given desirability of pelts; 99% of seizures were skins; main market for pelts is China; study in four Asian countries documented 560 online advertisements for live otters, including L. perspicillata.

• Distribution: Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe; proposal for Eswatini population only.

• Population: Near Threatened (IUCN 2011); global population 20,375 in 2015 (IUCN/SSC AfRSG); population of Eswatini: 66.

• Threats: Principal threat poaching for horn; total poached since 2008 >7,900; three poached in Eswatini (2 in 2011; 1 in 2014); other threats are drought, habitat degradation.

• Trade: Global gross exports of wild-sourced, 2008-2017: 921 live specimens, 1,445 trophies; Eswatini, 2008-2017: 13 live (all to South Africa).11 All populations on Appendix I except South Africa and Swaziland (Eswatini) are on Appendix II with Annotation (“For the exclusive pur-pose of allowing international trade in live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations and hunting trophies. All other specimens shall be deemed to be specimens of species included in Appendix I and the trade in them shall be regulated accordingly”).

Continued



Prop. 9

Southern white rhinocerosCeratotherium simum simum

Namibia

Transfer Namibia’s population from Appendix I to II with the following annotation:

“For the exclusive purpose of allowing international trade in: a) live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations; and

b) hunting trophies.

All other specimens shall be deemed to be speci-mens of species included in Appendix I and the trade in them shall be regulated accordingly.”

• At CoP17, Parties, including rhino range States, rejected a similar pro-posal from Eswatini.

• Wild population in Eswatini is very small and declining, has a restricted distribution, has experienced a decline in quality of habitat, and has high vulnerability to drought, poaching, and illegal trade.

OPPOSE

• The population of Namibia qualifies for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, para. A): the wild population is ‘small’ (1,037 <<5,000 individuals) and has a high vulnerability to extrinsic factors (poaching and illegal trade).

• At CoP17, Namibia was recommended for inclusion as a Priority Country for Attention by CITES Rhino Working Group due to recent escalation of poaching.14

• Namibia’s conviction rate for poaching and illegal trade remains poor: only one of 85 poaching and trafficking cases since 2016 resulted in a conviction as of Oct. 2018.15

• Species in high demand; precautionary measures in Annex 4 of RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) precludes transfer to Appendix II.

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, para. A): wild population is small (1,037) each subpopula-tion is very small (~73 subpopulations) high vulnerability to extrinsic factors (poaching and illegal trade)

• Distribution: Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe; proposal for Namibia population only.

• Population: Near Threatened (IUCN 2011); global population 20,375 in 2015 (IUCN/SSC AfRSG); population of Namibia is 1,037.

• Threats: Principal threat poaching for horn; >7,900 poached globally since 2008; 43 poached in Namibia since 2010, significantly increasing in recent years.12

• Trade: Global trade in wild-sourced, 2008-2017: 921 live, 1,445 tro-phies; Namibia, 2008-2017: 15 live rhinos, 31 trophies.13 All popula-tions on Appendix I except South Africa and Swaziland (Eswatini) are on Appendix II with Annotation (“For the exclusive purpose of allowing international trade in live animals to appropriate and acceptable destina-tions and hunting trophies. All other specimens shall be deemed to be specimens of species included in Appendix I and the trade in them shall be regulated accordingly”).

Continued


Prop. 10

African elephantLoxodonta africana

Zambia

Transfer the population of Zambia from Appendix I to Appendix II subject to:

1. Trade in registered raw ivory (tusks and pieces) for commercial purposes only to CITES approved trading partners who will not re-export;

2. Trade in hunting trophies for non-commercial purposes;

3. Trade in hides and leather goods; and

4. All other specimens shall be deemed to be specimens of species in Appendix I and the trade in them shall be regulated accordingly.

Prop. 11


OPPOSE

• Effect of proposal would be to allow Zambia to export registered raw African elephant ivory for commercial purposes under certain condi-tions; this undermines recommendation in RC10.10 (Rev. CoP17) to close domestic ivory markets, and demand reduction campaigns and enforcement efforts.

• IUCN SSC African Elephant Specialist Group provides 2016 Zambia pop-ulation estimate of 21,967±4,704.18

• Proposal does not mention evidence of large-scale poaching, including 85% carcass ratio in Sioma Ngwezi National Park19 (highest reported in the Great Elephant Census), and in Luangwa Valley, Kafue National Park, Lower Zambezi system20 and South Luangwa National Park.21

• ETIS report to CoP18 identifies Zambia as country of concern linked to large-scale movements of ivory.22

• Zambia shares its population with neighboring countries heavily affected by poaching whose elephants are on Appendix I.

• At least three tons of ivory stolen from government stockpile since 2012; unclear if any prosecutions have followed.23

• CITES Parties rejected similar proposals by Zambia at CoP12 (2002) and CoP15 (2010).

• Population experienced a marked decline in the last three generations from 200,000 in 198124 to ~20,000 in 2015.25 Population has not recov-ered. Meets criteria for Appendix I in RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, para. C.

• Ivory seizure data in Proposal is inconsistent with other information: Proposal states 1,348.8 kg ivory seized in 2017; however publicly avail-able information indicates that > 3,000 kg of ivory was seized that year.26

• Precautionary measures in RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 4, para. a) 2) B) for transfer to Appendix II not met: no “appropriate enforcement controls and compliance with the requirements of the Convention”; population continues to satisfy the criteria for listing in Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, para. C(i).

OPPOSE

• Effect of proposal would be to allow international trade in registered government-owned stocks of African elephant ivory from the four coun-tries under certain circumstances; this undermines recommendation in RC10.10 (Rev. CoP17) to close domestic ivory markets, and demand reduction campaigns and enforcement efforts.

• Distribution: Proposal for Zambian population only; see Prop. 12 for general information on L. africana.

• Population: Proposal provides population estimate of 23,000-27,000 in Zambia.

• Threats: For L. africana generally, poaching for ivory trade and meat, and habitat loss and fragmentation;16 proposal reports chief threat to be human-elephant conflict.

• Trade: Zambia gross exports 2013-2017 include 39 trophies and 62 tusks;17 2005 annual export quota of 40 tusks as hunting trophies from 20 animals increased to 160 tusks and other trophies from 80 animals in 2011-2016.

• Distribution: Proposal for populations of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe only; see Prop.12 for general information on L. africana.

• Population: Country totals in proposal: Botswana 131,626, Namibia 22,754, South Africa 18,841, and Zimbabwe 82,630.

• Threats: For L. africana generally, poaching for ivory trade and meat, Continued Continued Continued



Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe

Amend annotation 2 for the populations of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe by deleting paragraphs (g)(iv), (g)(v), (g)(vii) and (h).27

Prop. 12


Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic and Togo

Include all populations in Appendix I through transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I of the populations of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

and habitat loss and fragmentation;28 proposal reports chief threats to be human-elephant conflict, poaching, habitat loss.

• Trade: 2013-2017 gross exports (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe): live (0, 6, 72,100); ivory carvings (0, 0, 1,503, 2,280 and ~11,484 kg); trophies (648, 468, 1,499, 1,006); tusks (1,113, 333, 1,153, 1,307 and ~29,032 kg);29 two ‘one-off’ sales of registered raw ivory from government-owned stocks (excluding seized ivory and ivory of unknown origin): the first from Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe to Japan in 1999 and the second from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe to Japan and China in 2008.

• Distribution: Sub-Saharan Africa (37 range States).

• Population: Vulnerable (IUCN 2008); estimated continental population 415,428 (±20,111). African Elephant Status Report 2016 first in 25 years to report continental decline in elephant numbers; declines attributed primarily to a surge in poaching.

• Threats: Poaching for ivory, habitat loss, human-elephant conflict.

• Trade: For 2015-2016, African range States reported wild-sourced exports of 133 tusks, 12,543 kg of tusks and 653 trophies; countries of import recorded wild-sourced imports of 752 tusks, 124 kg of tusks and, 739 trophies.34

• Legal ivory markets provide a cover for illegal ivory and fuel illegal trade, poaching and consumer demand;30 after 2008 sale, demand for ivory in China and poaching increased significantly.31

• MIKE found an increase in proportion of illegally killed elephants (PIKE) for Southern Africa since 2016, including in Chobe National Park (Botswana) and Kruger National Park (South Africa).32

• ETIS recommends South Africa and Zimbabwe as Category C countries of concern because of exports of illegal ivory; Namibia identified as a country of origin or export for illegally worked ivory, and Botswana as an important source of illegal trade in raw ivory.33

SUPPORT

• Proposal would prohibit all international commercial trade in African elephant ivory and other specimens and thereby simplify enforcement.

• Supported by the 32 member countries of the African Elephant Coalition, constituting the overwhelming majority of African elephant range States.

• RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 3, recommends that listing of a species in more than one Appendix should be avoided in view of the enforcement problems it creates.

Continued Continued Continued


• Distribution: Formerly from Europe to north-eastern Siberia, including the American mid-west and eastern Canada.

• Population: Extinct.

• Threats: Trade in mammoth ivory provides a cover for illegal trade in elephant ivory.

• Trade: Ivory traded; tusk imports to Hong Kong increased from <9 tons/year 2000-2003 to 31 tons/year 2007-2013: Russia reportedly exported nearly 80 tons of mammoth tusks in 2017, of which 80% went to China.

• Distribution: Australia.

• Population: Near Threatened (IUCN 2012).

• Threats: Predation by feral cats and red foxes.

• Trade: No trade recorded in the CITES Trade Database; no illegal trade known.

SUPPORT

• Mammoth ivory trade almost totally unregulated and undocumented; not easily distinguished from elephant ivory, facilitating illegal interna-tional trade.

• DNA analysis (2018) found mammoth and illegal elephant ivory in the same seized shipment in Cambodia.35

• Extensive evidence36 of elephant ivory sold as mammoth ivory in China and Hong Kong; increase in demand and prices from $350/kg in 2010 to $1,900/kg in 2014.

� Meets criteria for listing in Appendix II in accordance with the Convention Article II.2 (b)): worked mammoth ivory pieces cannot easily be distinguished from elephant ivory

SUPPORT

• AC30 determined that species meets the criteria in RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) for transfer from Appendix I to II.

Prop. 13

Woolly mammothMammuthus primigenius

Israel

Include in Appendix II in accordance with Article II, paragraph 2 (b)

Prop. 14

Greater stick-nest ratLeporillus conditor

Australia

Transfer from Appendix I to II




• Population: P. fieldi, Vulnerable (IUCN 2012).

• Threats: Predation by introduced predators.


• Distribution: Australia, Papua New Guinea.

• Population: Vulnerable (IUCN 2015).

• Threats: Habitat loss.


SUPPORT


SUPPORT


Prop. 15

Shark bay mousePseudomys fieldi praeconis

Australia


Prop. 16

False swamp ratXeromys myoides

Australia




• Population: Critically Endangered (IUCN 2015).

• Threats: Fires; predation by feral cats.


• Distribution: China.

• Population: Vulnerable (IUCN 2018); classified as Endangered in China’s Red List (2015).

• Threats: Hunting, habitat loss, collection for trade.

• Trade: Feathers, live individuals and eggs offered online; hunts advertised online in Czech Republic and Slovakia; eggs, chicks and adults collected from wild to meet demand for exhibition and from private collectors and breeding centers; 2007-2015, 41 kg and 3,674 feather pieces commercially imported into the EU with China claimed as source, yet species nationally protected.

SUPPORT


SUPPORT

• Male specimens in demand for their beautiful coloration and long tail feathers.

• Nationally protected in China.

• “Dramatic decline” recorded in 2015 study; poaching for feathers listed as chief threat.37

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, para. B): traded internationally species in decline threatened by trade

Prop. 17

Central rock ratZyzomys pedunculatus

Australia


Prop. 18

Reeve’s pheasantSyrmaticus reevesii

China


11w w w . s s n . o r g


• Distribution: Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, South Sudan, Nigeria (possibly extirpated).

• Population: Vulnerable (IUCN 2016); 30-49% decline over 45 years (three generations); ongoing decline; 28,000-47,000 mature individuals; B. p. pavo-nina classified as Endangered;38 fragmented into 8+ isolated populations.

• Threats: Habitat loss; trapping of live birds for domestic and international trade.

• Trade: From 1986-2016, 8,916 live birds exported.


• Population: Last reliably recorded in 1906.

• Threats: Habitat conversion to pasture.


SUPPORT

• Twice included in Review of Significant Trade, which failed to respond to shifts in trade; e.g. Sudan, subject to a trade suspension for the spe-cies since 2013, has exported 62 specimens as “captive-bred’ since the suspension has been in place.39

• Breeding success in captivity considered to be ‘very low’.40

• In 2016, 20 wild B. pavonina exported from DRC where species is only “an occasional visitor”. 41

• Species is highly prized in private collections.42

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, para. C i), ii)): traded internationally trade a major threat rapid population decline will continue fragmented populations

SUPPORT


Prop. 19

Black-crowned crane Balearica pavonina

Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal


Prop. 20

Lesser rufous bristlebirdDasyornis broadbenti litoralis

Australia




• Population: Endangered (IUCN 2016).

• Threats: Habitat destruction; fires.


• Distribution: Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, USA, Venezuela; proposal for Mexico population only.


• Threats: Habitat loss; illegal hunting for hides.

• Trade: No exports from Mexico for commercial purposes; Mexico recorded 54 seizures totalling 186 specimens from 2005-2018; illegal hunting for hides occurs.43

SUPPORT


OPPOSE

• Proponent intends to pursue a ranching scheme for the species.

• Appropriate approach would be to submit a proposal in accordance with RC 11.16 (Rev. CoP15) on Ranching and trade in ranched specimens of species transferred from Appendix I to Appendix II.

• Stable or increasing trends only reported in “some” sites within Mexico.

Prop. 21

Long-billed bristlebirdDasyornis longirostris

Australia


Prop. 22

American crocodileCrocodylus acutus

Mexico

Transfer the population of Mexico from Appendix I to II

13w w w . s s n . o r g


• Distribution: Sri Lanka.

• Population: C. nigrilabris: Endangered (Sri Lanka’s National Red List 201244); C. pethiyagodai: only described in 2014,45 not yet assessed but pro-posed for Endangered; area of occupancy of C. nigrilabris <500 km; for C. pethiyagodai only 25 km2; habitat severely fragmented.

• Threats: Habitat loss, pesticide use and collection for pet trade.

• Trade: Adult specimens of both species are in the international pet trade; regularly on sale in Europe and USA; sell for up to USD 1,000/pair.


• Population: C. tennentii Endangered (IUCN 1996); C. aspera: Vulnerable (IUCN 2009). Of five species, three classified in Sri Lanka’s National Red List (2012) as Critically Endangered, two as Endangered; three species are point endemic (two limited to an area <10 km², one to <200 km²).

• Threats: Habitat loss; collection for pet trade.

• Trade: Adult specimens of C. stoddartii in international trade since 2011, C. tennentii and C. aspera since 2014, and C. erdeleni and C. karu since 2017.

SUPPORT

• Both species highly vulnerable to over-collection for trade because of restricted distribution, special habitat needs, small populations and low reproductive output.

• Illegal captures ongoing despite strict protection.46

• Legally exported in1980s but absent in marketplace for almost 30 years; recent offers must be for recently and illegally obtained wild specimens or their offspring.

• Specimens of C. pethiyagodai were first offered in the international pet trade in 2016.47

� Meet criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, paras. A (i) and (v); B (i), (iii) and (iv); C (i)): traded internationally range-restricted species small, decreasing and fragmented populations decline in both habitat and number of individuals high vulnerability to intrinsic and extrinsic factors

SUPPORT

• In demand because of their appearance and coloration.

• Illegal captures ongoing despite strict protection.


• Prices in Europe may reach € 2,200/pair.48

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, paras. B (i), (iii), (iv) and C (ii)): traded internationally restricted area of distribution severely fragmented popula-tion high vulnerability to intrinsic and extrinsic factors decrease in both area and quality of habitat

Prop. 23

Black-cheek lizard and Pethiyagoda’s crestless lizardCalotes nigrilabris and Calotes pethiyagodai

Sri Lanka

Include in Appendix I

Prop. 24

Horned lizardsCeratophora spp.

Sri Lanka




• Population: C. dumbara: Critically Endangered (IUCN 2008); C. ceylanica: Endangered (Sri Lanka’s National Red List 2012), not assessed by IUCN; both species occur in highly fragmented cloud forests.

• Threats: Habitat loss, agrochemicals, climate change and collection for pet trade.

• Trade: In recent years significant numbers of both species have appeared in the international pet market as adult specimens.; C. dumbara discovered 2006, recorded in international pet trade since at least 2016; specimens sell for up to € 750 each.


• Population: Vulnerable (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012); extent of occurrence <20,000 km² (maybe just 800 km²).50


• Trade: Adult specimens in international trade since 2011; regularly offered for sale online in Europe and USA.

SUPPORT

• High demand for endemic Sri Lankan reptiles49 in the international pet trade.

• Illegal captures ongoing despite strict protection.


� Meet criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, paras. A (i) and (v); B (i), (iii) and (iv)): traded internationally small, declining and fragmented population high vulner-ability to intrinsic and extrinsic factors observed, inferred or projected decrease in area of distribution, area of habitat and quality of habitat restricted area of distribution

SUPPORT

• One of most sought-after Sri Lankan agamids.

• Restricted to relatively small areas; vulnerable to overexploitation and local extinction.

• Strictly protected in Sri Lanka.

• Prices in USA as high as USD 5,500/pair.

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, paras. B (iii) and (iv)): traded internationally severely frag-mented population high vulnerability to intrinsic and extrinsic factors serious decrease in both area and quality of habitat

Prop. 25

Pygmy lizard and Knuckles pygmy lizardCophotis ceylanica and Cophotis dumbara

Sri Lanka


Prop. 26

Hump-nosed lizard, lyre head lizardLyriocephalus scutatus

Sri Lanka


15w w w . s s n . o r g


• Distribution: China, Viet Nam, Japan.

• Population: Of 19 species (13 covered by proposal), 3 are Critically Endangered, 3 Endangered, 2 Vulnerable (IUCN 2018).

• Threats: Habitat loss, collection for pet trade.

• Trade: Widely offered for sale online; 16,714 Goniurosaurus spp. imported into USA 1999-2018, 68.9% wild-caught; G. luii sells for up to USD 2,000 each.

• Distribution: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China,

• India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam.

• Population: Not assessed (IUCN); declines reported in Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Viet Nam and China.

• Threats: Collection for trade and habitat loss.

• Trade: Sold in dried form or preserved in alcohol for use in Traditional Chinese Medicine; very high levels of trade (e.g. Taiwan imported a total of ~15 million specimens 2004-2013; 2-5 million exported from Thailand each year); also trade in live specimens as pets.

SUPPORT

• Popular in pet trade since 1990s.

• High local endemism; many recorded from a single locality, mountain range or archipelago.

• Recently described G. catbaensis already offered online by European traders.

• Some species qualify for listing in Appendix I.

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, paras. A and B): several species have fragmented populations, small area of occupancy all species in demand for trade high trade levels some species qualify for listing in Appendix I

SUPPORT

• Legal and illegal trade levels are high.

• In 2011, 6.75 tonnes of illegally acquired tokay geckos were seized en route from Indonesia to Hong Kong.

• Organized smugglers in Bhutan, Nepal, India and Bangladesh reportedly working together to move specimens in international trade.51

• Listing is needed to combat increase in trade in other reptile species under the name G. gecko.

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, para. B): high levels of international trade declines reported very high levels of international trade

Prop. 27

Tiger geckos, cave geckos, leopard geckosGoniurosaurus spp.

China, European Union and Viet Nam

Include populations of China and Viet Nam in Appendix II

Prop. 28

Tokay geckoGekko gecko

European Union, India, Philippines and USA



• Distribution: Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

• Population: Critically Endangered (2011); fewer than 10,000 individuals; first described 2005; area of occurrence 1 km2; 80% population decline since 2010 in areas accessible to trappers.

• Threats: Collection for pet trade; habitat loss/degradation; alien species (domestic cats, goats).

• Trade: Heavily targeted for pet trade; prices of up to USD 700 each; more than 12 traders offered the species online in 2016-2017; never legally exported.

• Distribution: Madagascar.

• Population: Vulnerable (IUCN 2011); rare; populations severely fragmented.


• Trade: Madagascar exported 6,392 live specimens 2013-2017.

SUPPORT

• Highly desired by collectors.

• A 2016 conservation plan for species by the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines identifies listing in Appendix I as a priority.

• No commercial exports authorized.

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, paras. A (I), (iii), (iv) and B (i)): traded internationally restricted area of distribution occurrence at one location marked decline in population

SUPPORT

• Up to 1,000 specimens collected annually; level of harvest may threaten survival.

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, para. B): traded internationally severely fragmented popula-tion continuing decline in habitat high levels of trade

Prop. 29

Grenadines clawed gecko, Union Island geckoGonatodes daudini

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines


Prop. 30

Grandidier’s ground geckoParoedura androyensis

European Union and Madagascar


17w w w . s s n . o r g


• Distribution: Mexico (11 species), Honduras (6), Guatemala (5), Costa Rica (2), El Salvador (2), Nicaragua (2), Belize (1), Colombia (1), Panama (1). 14 species are endemic to single range States.

• Population: 18 species; 2 Critically Endangered, 5 Endangered, 3 Vulnerable (IUCN). Mexico classifies 7 (of 11) species as endangered (1), threatened (4) or under special protection (2).

• Threats: Habitat loss, local consumption, collection for pet trade.

• Trade: Over the last 10 years the USA imported 63,971 live specimens, with 15 of 18 species of the genus being traded; C. similis and C. quinque-carinata are the most popular, followed by C. palearis and C. melanosterna.

• Distribution: Iran.

• Population: Data deficient (IUCN 2009); rare; only known from a few specimens; scattered and small populations.

• Threats: Collection for pet trade, which led to local extinctions of popula-tions of similar P. persicus and P. fieldi.

• Trade: No legal trade; specimens offered online in Europe.

Prop. 31

Spiny-tailed iguanasCtenosaura spp.

El Salvador and Mexico


Prop. 32

Spider-tailed horned viperPseudocerastes urarachnoides

Iran


SUPPORT

• Four species currently in Appendix II; listing of entire genus would facili-tate enforcement.

• Identification to species level is very difficult.52

• Populations have collapsed or are seriously depleted in several Mexican states.

• Significant illegal trade for international pet market; e.g., alleged cap-tive-bred specimens of C. alfredsmithi, a Mexican endemic never legally exported, are offered for sale in the EU.

• Depending on species and age, prices vary from USD 15-1,500.

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, para. A and Annex 2b para. A): high levels of international trade several species seriously reduced high demand in international trade listing of full genus will harmonize and facilitate enforcement

SUPPORT

• Unique tail makes it a target for collectors.

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, paras. A and B): traded internationally rare small pop-ulations specimens advertised online


• Distribution: Lao PDR, Viet Nam.


• Threats: Collection for pet trade and for use as food; unsustainable trade has resulted in depletion, if not collapse, of all populations surveyed.

• Trade: 3,372 live specimens legally traded 1999-2013 (previously recorded as Cuora galbinifrons; minority of these specimens likely C. bourreti); increasing economic value because of rarity; currently listed in Appendix II (under C. galbinifrons) with a zero export quota for wild specimens traded for commercial purposes.

• Distribution: Viet Nam; previously identified as a subspecies of C. galbinifrons.

• Population: Critically Endangered (IUCN 2015); limited to small area in southern Viet Nam; likely no more than 3,000-10,000 individuals.

• Threats: Collection for pet trade and for use as food; unsustainable trade has resulted in depletion, if not collapse, of populations.

• Trade: 3,372 live specimens legally traded 1999-2013 (previously recorded as C. galbinifrons; minority of these specimens likely C. picturata); increasing economic value because of rarity; currently listed in Appendix II (under C. galbinifrons) with a zero export quota for wild specimens traded for commercial purposes.

Prop. 33

Bourret’s box turtleCuora bourreti

Viet Nam


Prop. 34

Southern Viet Nam box turtleCuora picturata

Viet Nam


SUPPORT

• Strictly protected in both range States.

• Viet Nam seized 18 specimens in 2018.

• Large numbers of illegally traded C. galbinifrons recorded in markets in China; difficult to distinguish C. bourreti from C. galbinifrons.

• Among the top 15 chelonian species offered for sale in Viet Nam on Facebook.53

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, paras. A (v) and C (i)): illegal international trade severe decline due to trade slow growth, late maturity, low repro-ductive output

SUPPORT

• Strictly protected in Viet Nam.

• Large numbers of illegally traded C. galbinifrons recorded in markets in China: difficult to distinguish C. picturata from C. galbinifrons.

• Among the top 15 chelonian species offered for sale in Viet Nam on Facebook.54

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, paras. A (i), (iv), B) (iii), (iv) and C) (i)): traded internationally small population severe decline due to trade slow growth, late maturity, low reproductive output

19w w w . s s n . o r g


• Distribution: Viet Nam.


• Threats: Collection for international pet trade, as food and as breeding stock in aquaculture facilities; habitat loss.

• Trade: 1,581 live individuals exported 2000-2017; 91 live individuals seized in 7 separate cases 2000-2015; zero quota for wild specimens for commercial purposes adopted at CoP16; proposal to list species on Appendix I not considered on procedural grounds.

• Distribution: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.


• Threats: Illegal collection for pet trade; habitat loss.

• Trade: Reported illegal collection of at least 55,000 wild specimens from one location in India in one year, 3-6 times number (10,000–20,000) previ-ously estimated to be poached throughout entire range. 70,664 live speci-mens exported 2000-2015, 58% recorded as captive-bred; data on country of origin missing for 91% of specimens. Largest exporter of ‘captive-bred’ specimens (Lebanon) now has zero quota in place as instructed by AC70.

Prop. 35

Vietnamese pond turtle, Annam pond turtleMauremys annamensis

Viet Nam


Prop. 36

Indian star tortoiseGeochelone elegans

Bangladesh, India, Senegal and Sri Lanka


SUPPORT

• Protected from commercial exploitation in Viet Nam.

• AC20 agreed with recommendation to transfer species to Appendix I.

• Scattered distribution in a few wetlands with only a few individuals surviving.

• Common until early to mid-1990s; commercial trade led to population collapse within a few years.

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, paras. A (i) (ii), (v), B (i), (iii) (iv) and C (i)): illegal international trade restricted area of distribution late maturity, low repro-ductive output, low recruitment small population severe population declines

SUPPORT

• In demand because of star pattern on shell.

• Protected in all range States.

• Most frequently confiscated species of tortoise or freshwater turtle worldwide.

• Targeted take of juveniles may impair recruitment; this may not mani-fest for several years.

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, para. C (i), (ii)): significant illegal trade severe decline due to trade late maturity, limited reproductive output, long genera-tion time easily hunted


• Distribution: Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia.

• Population: Vulnerable (IUCN 1996); Critically Endangered recom-mended (IUCN 2018).

• Threats: Collection for pet trade, habitat degradation.

• Trade: Traded in significant numbers, as captive bred or ranched; serious doubt about origin of specimens in trade. Zambia, with one population of an estimated 518 tortoises, exported at least 24,000 specimens 2006-2016.

• Distribution: Central and South America, Mexico; 65 of the 104 species are endemic to a single country.

• Population: 4 species classified as Critically Endangered, 12 Endangered and 16 Vulnerable (IUCN); occupied habitat for several species <500 km² and area of occurrence <5,000 km².

• Threats: Habitat loss, climate change, chytridiomycosis, collection for pet trade.

• Trade: Species from all four proposed genera affected; regularly adver-tised on the internet; USA imported 2,138 glass frogs 2004-2016; signifi-cant illegal and unreported trade documented by seizures (e.g. Costa Rica 2014: dozens of glass frogs and 203 tadpoles seized from German citizen); Hyalinobatrachium spp. sold for € 175 each, Sachatamia spp. For € 350 and unidentified Centrolene spp. for up to € 900.

Prop. 37

Pancake tortoiseMalacochersus tornieri

Kenya and USA


Prop. 38

Glass frogsHyalinobatrachium spp., Centrolene spp., Cochranella spp., and Sachatamia spp.

Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Peru


SUPPORT

• Highly vulnerable to overexploitation: low reproductive output (1 egg/year, late maturity), rigid habitat requirements, low densities and frag-mented populations.

• Subpopulations depleted or extirpated by collectors.

• Experts “strongly recommended” including the pancake tortoise on CITES Appendix I.55

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, paras. A (i), (v), B (i), (iii), (iv) and C (i)): traded internationally population is small and markedly declined restricted and fragmented area of distribution high vulnerability to intrin-sic and extrinsic factors decrease in habitat and number of subpopulations

SUPPORT

• Most species difficult for non-experts to distinguish, requiring listing of entire genera.

• Popular in pet trade in the EU and US.

• Demand highly unselective: customers want to buy “a glass frog” inde-pendent of species.

• Nationally protected in most range States.

• Claimed “farm-raised” specimens from Costa Rica” in trade; country has no such facilities.

� Meet criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, para. B and Annex 2b para. A): significant legal and illegal trade several have restricted areas of distribution increasing demand in international trade look-alike reasons justify listing of all genera high vulnerability to intrinsic and extrinsic fac-tors serious decrease in both area and quality of habitat

21w w w . s s n . o r g


• Distribution: China.

• Population: E. chinhaiensis, Critically Endangered (IUCN 2004); E. maxi-quadratus considered to be Critically Endangered;56 most endangered sala-mander species in Asia.


• Trade: Two live E. chinhaiensis offered for sale in Japan at USD 1400 each; for E. maxiquadratus, the possibility of illegal hunting and trade is high.

• Distribution: China, Viet Nam.

• Population: 13 species; 7 species on IUCN Red List (2 Endangered, 1 Vulnerable, 2 Near Threatened, 2 Least Concern); classifications need updating; small distribution ranges; some species known from one locality.

• Threats: Collection for food, traditional medicine and national and interna-tional pet trade; habitat loss.

• Trade: 38,273 individuals imported into the USA 2000-2016, 50% wild-caught; some in international trade before species described.

SUPPORT

• Both species have limited distribution and small population size.

• High demand on Internet for both species.

• E. maxiquadratus discovered in 2013; only ten individuals recorded in field surveys 2011-2016.

� Meet criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, para. B): illegal international trade extremely narrow distribu-tion occurrence at few locations small population sizes highly fragmented habitats late maturing, long-lived

SUPPORT

• P. hongkongensis is listed in Appendix II.

• Currently at least 3 undescribed taxa in trade.

• Distinguishing among species is difficult.

• Easily collected when congregated in breeding pools.

� Meet criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, paras. A and B and Annex 2b, para. A): high levels of interna-tional trade extremely small distribution ranges popular in trade similar in appearance to P. hongkongensis

Prop. 39

Chinhai spiny newt and mountain spiny newtEchinotriton chinhaiensis and Echinotriton maxiquadratus

China


Prop. 40

Asian warty newtsParamesotriton spp.

China, European Union and Viet Nam

Include populations of China and Viet Nam in Appendix II


SUPPORT

• Most species only known from a few localities.

• 18 of 25 species described over last 10 years; new species highly sought in pet trade.

• Trade volume probably much higher than trade statistics suggest.57

• Identifying to species level is difficult.

• Easily collected when congregated at breeding sites.

• Some species qualify for listing in Appendix I.

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, paras. A and B and 2b, para. A): high levels of interna-tional trade small ranges few and small populations declining populations and habitat popular in trade

SUPPORT

• In the North Atlantic alone 1500 tonnes caught Jan-Jun 2018; global fisheries inadequately monitored, catches poorly recorded.

• Longfin mako resembles shortfin but is less abundant and has lower fecundity (2-8 young).

• International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) stock assessment shows severe population declines; ICCAT failed to adopt management measures in line with scientific advice in 2017 and 2018.

• CITES listing will encourage better management measures by regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), including ICCAT, and will compliment domestic and regional fisheries management.

� I. oxyrinchus meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, paras. A and B): international trade a major driver of population declines low reproduction rate (high age at maturity >8 years, litter size of 4-25 young, only every 2 to 3 years) I. paucus meets Annex 2b, para. A, for look-alike rea-sons listing would improve enforcement

Prop. 41

Crocodile newtsTylototriton spp.

China, European Union, Viet Nam


Prop. 42

Shortfin mako shark and longfin mako sharkIsurus oxyrinchus and Isurus paucus

Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, European Union, Gabon, Gambia, Jordan, Lebanon, Liberia, Maldives, Mali, Mexico, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Palau, Samoa, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Togo


• Distribution: Bhutan, China, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Viet Nam.

• Population: 25 species, 20 single-country endemics; 13 species on IUCN Red List (2 Endangered, 5 Vulnerable, 3 Near Threatened, 3 Least Concern).

• Threats: Habitat loss; collection for food, pets, traditional medicine; inter-national trade.

• Trade: At least 12 species in international trade; 35,237 individuals imported into USA 1999-2017, 76% wild-caught. Some in international trade before species described.

• Distribution: I. oxyrinchus: offshore temperate and tropical seas world-wide; I. paucus: Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Micronesia, Morocco, Nauru, Portugal, Solomon Islands, Spain, Taiwan, China, USA, Western Sahara.

• Population: I. oxyrinchus: Endangered (IUCN 2018); I. paucus: Endangered (IUCN 2018); ICCAT (2017) identified severe decline of I. oxyrin-chus in the Atlantic, with 54% chance of recovering by 2040 if catches cut to zero; no catch limits were adopted. Both species declining globally due to largely unmanaged target and bycatch fisheries (especially pelagic longline fisheries). I. oxyrinchus listed as Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean due to decline of over 90% (IUCN 2016).

• Threats: Overfishing for meat and fin trade.

• Trade: Traded internationally for high-quality meat and fins; during 2014-2015, I. oxyrinchus was fifth most observed species in the shark fin trade through Hong Kong’s main commercial center; I. oxyrinchus fins make up 0.2-1.2% of current international trade. High value and quality of meat drive target and bycatch fisheries.

23w w w . s s n . o r g


SUPPORT

• Population declines of 50-80% projected to continue; in Senegal, landings dropped 80% in 7 years (4,050 tonnes in 1998 to 821 tonnes in 2005).

• Targeted for the shark fin trade; fins are sold for higher prices than those of other species.

• Closely related to Appendix I-listed sawfish; listing necessary to prevent similar fate.

� Glaucostegus cemiculus and G. granulatus meet criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, paras. A and B): international trade major driver of population declines low productivity highly susceptible to capture as bycatch; other 4 species meet Annex 2b, para. A, for look-alike reasons

SUPPORT

• Fins sold for higher prices than other species.

• Especially susceptible to bycatch due to coastal habitats; declines of up to 86% in some areas over a 5-year period.

• Heavily exploited throughout their range yet lacking fisheries manage-ment measures.

� R. australiae and R. djiddensis meet criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, paras. A and B): interna-tional trade a major driver of population declines restricted habitat use low productivity other 8 species in the family Rhinidae and any putative species of the family meet Annex 2b, para. A, for look-alike reasons

Prop. 43

Giant guitarfishesGlaucostegus spp.

Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, European Union, Gabon, Gambia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Monaco, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Palau, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Togo and Ukraine


Prop. 44

WedgefishesRhinidae spp.

Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, European Union,

• Distribution: Proposal is to list G. cemiculus and G. granulatus on Appendix II in accordance with RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) Annex 2a, para. A, and the other four species under para. B because they look like the other two. G. cemiculus: E. Atlantic, Portugal through the Mediterranean to Angola; G. granulatus: Indian Ocean from United Arab Emirates to Myanmar.

• Population: G. cemiculus and G. granulatus: Critically Endangered (IUCN 201958); populations of both species have declined up to 80% over the past three generations.

• Threats: Unmanaged and unregulated fisheries; biological characteristics make them prone to bycatch; those caught as bycatch are retained for fin trade.

• Trade: Some of the most valuable species in international fin trade; fins seen in shops in Hong Kong and at auction and for sale in Oman and UAE. Meat consumed domestically and sometimes exported but far less com-monly than fins.

• Distribution: 2 of 10 species in family Rhinidae meet criteria in RC 9.24 (CoP17), Annex 2a, para. A: Rhynchobatus australiae: Australia, South East Asia, India, Middle East and Eastern Africa down to Northern Mozambique; R. djiddensis: Western Indian Ocean from South Africa to Oman.

• Population: R. australiae and R. djiddensis: Critically Endangered (IUCN 201959); Rhinidae is third most globally threatened chondrichthyan family. Significant decline in Southeast Asia; 86% decline in one generation in Southern Asia; 50-80% decline over three generations in the Northwest Indian Ocean; declines noted in Eastern Africa.

• Threats: Unsustainable and unregulated fishery mortality throughout range; both caught by artisanal and commercial fisheries as target species and as bycatch; retention incentivized by high value in the global fin trade.

• Trade: Low-value meat consumed domestically; increasingly targeted and retained for the fin trade; R. australiae made up highest percentage of species in Singapore fin trade in a recent study.

Continued


• Distribution: Reef and seagrass ecosystems in Indian and Pacific Oceans, from East Africa to Polynesia.

• Population: H. fuscogilva, Vulnerable; H.nobilis and H. whitmaei, Endangered (IUCN 2010).

• Threats: Overfishing; pollution; habitat deterioration.

• Trade: Exploited for use in Asian cuisine; market mainly in dried speci-mens; also traded for medicinal and cosmetic products; price and demand increasing;60 illegal sea cucumber fishing is a long-standing issue but vol-umes are difficult to establish.

• Distribution: India, Sri Lanka.

• Population: Currently 15 species recognized; 8 on IUCN Red List (2 Critically Endangered, 3 Endangered, 1 Vulnerable, 1 Least Concern, 1 Data Deficient).


• Trade: USA imported 22,918 live Poecilotheria spp. 2006-2017, majority as captive-bred; P. regalis, P. miranda, P. rufilata, P. metallica, and P. striata very common in the pet trade; P. formosa and P. tigrinaweseli common in the pet trade.62

SUPPORT

• Teatfish are some of the most fished and poached tropical Indo-Pacific holothurians.

• Highly sought after; high commercial value.

• Global sea cucumber fishery grew from 130,000 tonnes in 1995 to 411,878 tonnes in 2012.61 • Easy to distinguish from other dried or live sea cucumbers.

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, paras. A and B): traded internationally late sexual maturity, density-dependent reproduction, low recruitment rates easily captured depleted or overexploited in most range countries

SUPPORT

• Need to list all species due to trade shifts and similarity in appearance among species.

• No legal exports from Sri Lanka; five species listed in US Endangered Species Act.

• IUCN Red List assessment63 recommends that all Poecilotheria spp. be included in Appendix II.

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, paragraphs A and B): traded internationally low repro-ductive rates decreasing and fragmented populations

Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, India, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Maldives, Mali, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Palau, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Syria, Togo and Ukraine


Prop. 45

TeatfishHolothuria (Microthele) fuscogilva, Holothuria (Microthele) nobilis, and Holothuria (Microthele) whitmaei

European Union, Kenya, Senegal, Seychelles and USA


Prop. 46

Ornamental tarantulasPoecilotheria spp.

Sri Lanka and USAInclude in Appendix II

Continued

25w w w . s s n . o r g


SUPPORT

• A. c. hermeli is very similar in appearance to A. c. chikae.

• The proposal report that traders have offered to import specimens of CITES Appendix I-listed Papilio chikae [A. c. chikae] into the EU as unlisted A.c. hermeli as customs officers cannot distinguish between the subspecies.

� A. c. hermeli meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2b, paragraph C) as a look-alike species, but Appendix I is proposed in accordance with RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 3, and RC 12.11 (Rev. CoP17), para. 2(b)

SUPPORT

• Specimens sell for up to € 2,950 outside Brazil; openly sold on EU web-sites, naming Brazil as country of origin.65,66

• Protected in Brazil.

� Meets criteria for Appendix I (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 1, paragraphs A (i), (ii), (v), B (i), (iii), (iv) and C (ii): habitat specialist population fluctuations restricted distribution declining populations international trade

• Distribution: Philippines; A. c. hermeli endemic to Mindoro.

• Population: A. c. chikae [Papilio chikae], Endangered (IUCN 1996); A. c. hermeli, very rare.

• Threats: Habitat loss; collection for trade.

• Trade: No legal exports reported from the Philippines; both subspecies offered for sale on the internet; a Philippine trader claimed 300-500 P. chikae could be sourced annually. P. chikae is listed on Appendix I: the proposal will avoid split-listing of subspecies in accordance with Annex 3 of RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), and in line with paragraph 2(b) of RC 12.11 (Rev. CoP17) on Standard Nomenclature. Proposal includes adoption of new standard refer-ence64 and renaming of Papilio chikae to A. chikae chikae.

• Distribution: Brazil.

• Population: Endangered (IUCN 2018); Critically Endangered (Brazil Red List); rare; three known populations are small, declining and hundreds of km apart.

• Threats: Habitat loss; collection for trade.

• Trade: Specimens offered for sale outside Brazil on the internet; 19 speci-mens found for sale in December 2018.

Prop. 47

Mindoro peacock swallowtail Achillides chikae hermeli Achillides chikae chikae

European Union and the Philippines

Include Achillides chikae hermeli in Appendix I

Amend the current Appendix I listing of Papilio chikae to Achillides chikae chikae

Prop. 48

Riverside swallowtail Parides burchellanus

Brazil



WITHDRAWN

• Distribution: Malawi; endemic to Mt. Mulanje.

• Population: Critically Endangered (IUCN 2011); area of occupancy is 845 ha; 2014 field survey found that at least 41.5% of standing trees were dead.

• Threats: Logging for timber, fires, invasive species.

• Trade: ~115,000 m3 illegally harvested in the last ten years.

WITHDRAWN

SUPPORT

• 2017 field survey found only 7 mature living trees.

• Decay and insect resistant wood highly valued.

• A m3 fetched nearly USD 4,000 at auction in 2010.67

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, paragraph A): internatinoal trade single location severe decline in population very small population

Prop. 49

Trumpet treesHandroanthus spp., Tabebuia spp. and Roseodendron spp.

Brazil and Ecuador

Include in App. II with annotation #6

Prop. 50

Mulanje cedarWiddringtonia whytei

Malawi


27w w w . s s n . o r g


Prop. 51

North Indian rosewoodDalbergia sissoo

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal

Delete from Appendix II

Prop. 52

Rosewoods, Palisanders and BubingasDalbergia spp., Guibourtia demeusei, Guibourtia pellegriniana, Guibourtia tessmannii

Canada and European Union

Amend annotation #1569

OPPOSE

• D. sissoo included in Appendix II with hundreds of species of Dalbergia for look alike reasons (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) Annex 2b, paragraph A).

• Wood in trade difficult to distinguish from other Dalbergia species; delisting could lead to misdeclaration of other Dalbergia species as D. sisso to circumvent CITES controls.

• India has a reservation in place on the Dalbergia spp. App. II listing.

OPPOSE

• Current annotation exempts non-commercial exports up to a certain weight, whereas proposed annotation exempts commercial exports of “finished products” up to a certain weight. This will allow sig-nificant international trade for commercial purposes without non-detriment and legal acquisition findings, potentially harming species conservation.

• Proposed exemption for commercial exports of up to 500g per item could result in large shipments of many small items that may have a negative conservation impact.

• Proposed exemption of trade in unlimited amounts of “finished” musical instruments, and “finished” musical instrument parts and accessories for any purpose, is overly broad and would set potentially harmful prec-edent for other CITES listings.

• Market data from the USA on fretted instruments shows that nega-tive impacts on trade were temporary and had ceased by 2018.71

• Distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Nepal.68

• Population: Not assessed by IUCN.

• Threats: Agricultural cultivation, animal grazing, disease, forest fires, dis-turbance from insects, and logging.

• Trade: In 2017, gross exports (all from India) included 5,350 carvings, 2,324 kg carvings, 52,922 kg wood products and 19,6374 wood products.

• Distribution: Tropical regions of Central and South America, Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia.

• Population: G. demeusei, G. pellegriniana, G. tessmannii: not assessed (IUCN). Dalbergia spp.: 57 classified as threatened in IUCN Red List (2 Critically Endangered, 30 Endangered, 25 Vulnerable).

• Threats: Logging, deforestation, forest conversion.

• Trade: Gross exports of Guibourtia spp. in 2017, ~4301 m3 logs and ~4,877 m3 sawn wood; gross exports of Dalbergia spp. in 2017, ~23,457 m3 logs and ~180,608 m3 sawn wood;70 proposal would exempt from CITES control: “finished products to a maximum weight of wood of the listed spe-cies of 500g per item”; and “finished musical instruments, finished musical instrument parts and finished musical instrument accessories”.


Prop. 53

African teak, AfromosiaPericopsis elata

Côte d’Ivoire and European Union

Expand the scope of the annotation (currently #5) to include: “Logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood, and transformed wood”

Prop. 54

African Padouk, mukula Pterocarpus tinctorius

Malawi

Include in App. II

• Distribution: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Republic of Congo.

• Population: Endangered (IUCN 1998); rare; populations severely fragmented.

• Threats: Logging, habitat loss.

• Trade: Gross exports of timber 2011-2015 totalled ~188,000 m3. 72.

• Distribution: Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia.

• Population: Least Concern (IUCN 2017); declining.

• Threats: Logging for international trade, habitat loss.

• Trade: In Tanzania, export permits for P. tinctorius increased almost 7 times between 2012 and 2014 (831.4 to 5,578.4 m3); though not a range State, Namibia exports ~250-300 containers of mukula logs to China per month. Center for International Forestry Research reports uncontrolled and illegal trade from DRC via Zambia, including routine bribes to officials.74

SUPPORT

• One of the most highly valued tropical timbers.

• Amendment is to prevent the listing being circumvented; current loop-hole allows wood with secondary processing to be traded without CITES permits.

• SC70 noted support for this proposal73 that was considered by the SC

Working Group on Annotations.

SUPPORT

• As other Pterocarpus spp. are exhausted or protected, pressure on P. tinctorius increases.

• Not on official list of species used in Chinese rosewood furniture but has achieved market demand due to its lookalike characteristics.

• Recent large-scale expansion of harvesting and trade in Malawi, Mozambique and DRC.

• ITTO-sponsored study documented 44,824m3 moving from DRC to Zambia, destined for China.75

� Meets criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, para. B): slow growing declining populations high levels of international trade

29w w w . s s n . o r g


Prop. 55

Bitter aloeAloe ferox

South Africa

Amend annotation # 4 for Aloe ferox as follows:

“f. finished products1 of Aloe ferox and Euphorbia antisyphilitica packaged and ready for retail trade.”

Prop. 56

Grandidier’s baobabAdansonia grandidieri

Switzerland

Amend the annotation #16 to read “Seeds, fruits, and oils and living plants”

• Distribution: South Africa.

• Population: Not assessed (IUCN 2018); Least Concern (South Africa Red List); common within restricted range.76

• Threats: Longer-term impact of high local levels of harvesting remains unknown.

• Trade: Used to make bitter aloes, a purgative medication; also, a non-bitter gel used in cosmetics; South Africa exports include cosmetics, derivatives, extract and leaves. Proposal would exempt finished products of Aloe ferox from Appendix II.

• Distribution: Madagascar.

• Population: Endangered (IUCN 2016).

• Threats: Habitat degradation; exploitation of seeds, fruit, bark and fibre.

• Trade: Exported as living plants, fruit, seeds, and oil extracted from seeds for cooking and cosmetics; in 2017, Madagascar exported 50 kg of related cosmetics.77

OPPOSE

• The conservation impact of the proposal is unclear.

• The only other species for which finished products are exempted from this annotation, Euphorbia antisyphilitica, resulted from a proposal that was supported by the PC after determining that it would not have an impact on the survival of wild populations.

• RC 11.21 (Rev. CoP17) on Use of annotations in Appendices I and II states, regarding annotations for plants, that “controls should include only those commodities that dominate the trade and the demand for the wild resource”: exports of Aloe ferox derivatives as finished products dominated exports from South Africa in 2013-2015, and so should be controlled and not exempted.

SUPPORT

• Proposal states that there is no need to specify live plants in the anno-tation as live plants already are included in the listing of the species in Appendix II.


Prop. 57

CedarsCedrela spp.

Ecuador and Brazil


• Distribution: Proposal is to list C. odorata (Spanish cedar) on Appendix II in accordance with RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) Annex 2a, para. B, and all other Cedrela spp. under Annex 2b, para. A because they resemble C. odorata; Cedrela spp., (also C. odorata) from Mexico through to Argentina, including Caribbean.

• Population: 17 Cedrela spp.: C. odorata, Vulnerable (IUCN 2017); C. fis-silis, Vulnerable (IUCN 2017); C. lilloi, Endangered (IUCN 1998); other species, not assessed; Pennington and Muellner78 categorize 3 Critically Endangered, 4 Endangered and 8 Vulnerable.

• Threats: Logging for trade including illegal logging, deforestation, land use change, habitat degradation.

• Trade: Colombia and Peru included C. odorata in Appendix III of CITES in 2001; 87,242.91 m3 of wood exported 2010-2017 (logs, plywood, sawn wood, wood and veneers).

SUPPORT

• Populations very fragmented with loss of connectivity and genetic diversity, affecting natural regeneration.

• C. odorata populations diminished by extensive exploitation over entire range for last 250 years; large individuals have become scarce.

• Illegal logging occurs widely in several range countries.

• Limited taxonomic, genetic and anatomical knowledge of wood of Cedrela creates problems in differentiating among species.

� C. odorata meets criteria for Appendix II ((RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2a, para. B): in decline populations fragmented high levels of trade. Other Cedrela spp. meet criteria for Appendix II (RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), Annex 2b, para. B) as look-alike species

31w w w . s s n . o r g

DOCUMENT BACKGROUND / CURRENT STATUS EFFECT OF DOCUMENT SSN VIEW


• Provides current Rules of Procedure (RoP) of the CoP, as amended at CoP17.

• The working group and SC could not agree on application of Rules 5.1 (credentials), 9 (quorum), and 26.1 (voting, with reference to Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs)).

• Recommends draft Decision directing SC to review Rule 25 concerning the procedure for deciding on amendments to Appendix I and II.

• Provides a draft Resolution to, inter alia, introduce Arabic as an official language, starting at CoP19.

• Provides a report on SC work over the last interses-sional period; requests CoP to note this document.

NO COMMENT

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends adoption of the draft Decision in order to clarify the procedure for voting on amendments to listing proposals.

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends that CoP18 note this document.

• Decision 17.1 directs SC to review some of the Rules.

• SC established a working group to undertake this review.

4. Rules of Procedure

4.1 Rules of Procedure for COP18

CoP18 Doc. 4.1

Secretariat

4.2 Review of the Rules of Procedure

CoP18 Doc. 4.2

Standing Committee

8. Draft resolution on language strategy for the Convention

CoP18 Doc. 8

Iraq

9. Committee reports and recommendations

9.1 Standing Committee

9.1.1 Report of the Chair

CoP18 Doc. 9.1.1

Summary of Working Documents To be discussed at the 18th Conference of the Parties to CITES

Prepared by the Species Survival Network

Abbreviations used: RC=Resolution Conf. • CoP=Conference of the Parties • SC=Standing Committee • AC=Animals Committee • PC=Plants Committee

DOCUMENT BACKGROUND / CURRENT STATUS EFFECT OF DOCUMENT SSN VIEW32

• No document.

• Provides a report on AC work over the last interses-sional period; requests CoP to note this document.

• No document.

• Provides a report on PC work over the last interses-sional period; requests CoP to note this document.

• No document.

• Provides draft Resolution on CITES Strategic Vision: 2021-2030 (Annex 1).

• Provides draft Decisions that, inter alia, direct Secretariat to:

Undertake a comparative analysis to illustrate linkages between the Strategic Vision 2021-2030 and goals within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the post-2020 biodiversity framework; and

Review objectives of CITES Strategic Vision 2021-2030 against CITES Resolutions and Decisions and identify activities that do not support these objectives.

• No comment.


• No comment.


• No comment.

OPPOSE IN PART

• SSN recommends that CoP18 reject the draft Decision directing Secretariat to identify, in Resolutions and Decisions, activities that do not support objectives of the Vision because Resolutions and Decisions express cur-rent or evolving CITES policies, and these should inform what appears in the Vision, not vice versa.

• Such a review risks being used politically by some to change language that they oppose.

• RC 16.3 (Rev. CoP17) on CITES Strategic Vision 2008-2020 provides the CITES Vision Statement and Strategic Goals.

9.1.2 Election of new regional and alternate regional members

9.2 Animals Committee


CoP18 Doc. 9.2.1


9.3 Plants Committee


CoP18 Doc. 9.3.1


10. CITES Strategic Vision

post-2020

CoP18 Doc. 10

Standing Committee

33w w w . s s n . o r g


• The proponents note that CITES has not been reviewed since the period 1994-1997.

• Recommends:

A second comprehensive review focusing on rights of rural communities and indigenous peoples over their natural resources; and that the review should propose amendments to Decisions, Resolutions, the Strategic Vision and/or proposals for a new Protocol or legal instrument.

A comprehensive study of the “inherent contradictions” between the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and CITES; and

A review of the listing of species in the Appendices.

• Secretariat agrees that a review would be useful but rec-ommends that SC provide terms of reference for review.

• Secretariat estimates that CITES review would cost $100,000, the GATT review another $50,000, and the Appendices review an additional amount.

• Provides a draft Resolution that, inter alia, proposes:

A review of all marine fish species listed since CoP12 to determine the “efficiency, from a conservation and management perspective,” of these listings; and

A moratorium on proposals for listing marine fish species in the Appendices until the review is completed.

• Proposes a new Resolution on Establishment of com-mittees (Annex 2).

• Secretariat recommends additional changes (Annex 3) clarifying SC’s proposal.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) directing SC to consider whether ToR of SC Finance and Budget Subcommittee should be annexed to proposed new Resolution; and Secretariat to prepare guidance for Committee working group chairs for consideration by SC.

OPPOSE

• Relationship between GATT and CITES was explored over multiple COPs from 2006 to 2013. Parties rejected all recommendations deriving from that process. No further review is needed.

• If a Party disagrees with the placement of a species in the Appendices, it may take a reservation, or propose that the species be transferred to another Appendix or delisted.

• Role of rural communities and indigenous peoples is dis-cussed under agenda item 17, with Party views strongly diverging.

• Funds needed for the review could be spent more wisely on capacity building and enforcement.

OPPOSE

• A Resolution cannot usurp the right of Parties to submit proposals.

• RC 14.8 (Rev. CoP17), on Periodic Review of species included in Appendices I and II, provides a mechanism to review listings.

• Successful capacity building workshops on implementa-tion of marine species listings have been held; there is a marine species section on the CITES website where Parties can obtain advice.

SUPPORT

• Proposed new Resolution, with Secretariat’s clarifications, will resolve inconsistencies among Committee ToRs.

11. Review of the Convention

CoP18 Doc. 11

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe

12. Securing Better Implementation of Marine Fish Species Listings in the Appendices

CoP18 Doc. 12

Antigua and Barbuda

13. Revision of Resolution Conf. 11.1 (Rev. CoP17) on Establishment of Committees

CoP18 Doc. 13

Standing Committee

• CoP9 (1994) commissioned a review of the effective-ness of the Convention.

• CoP10 (1997) considered the review but did not pro-pose amendments to the Convention.

• CITES Article XV states, “Any Party may propose an amendment to Appendix I or II.”

• RC 11.1 (Rev. CoP17) establishes terms of reference (ToR) for Committees.

• Decisions 17.3, 17.5, 17.9, inter alia, direct SC, AC, PC to review their RoP and ToR in relation to RC 11.1 (Rev. CoP17).



NO OPINION

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• Reports that the current CITES conflict of interest policy is being applied diligently and there has been no conflict of interest either reported or alleged.

• Invites CoP to note this document.

• Reports on related work undertaken.

• Secretariat suggests retaining Decision 17.56 with minor amendments and adopting a new Decision directing SC to consider its report on existing practices in other biodiversity-related conventions regarding Decisions and Resolutions of their governing bodies on synergies, partnerships and cooperation with mul-tilateral environmental conventions and agreements.

• Provides an update on related work undertaken, particularly in relation to toothfish.

• Provides amendments to RC 12.4 including, inter alia, that non-contracting Parties to CCAMLR should comply with CCAMLR CDS regarding toothfish.

• Provides an update on related work undertaken.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia, direct Secretariat to update the report on the contri-bution of CITES to the implementation of the GSPC and the PC, if required, to draft a revision of RC 16.5.

14. Potential conflicts of interest in the Animals and Plants Committees

CoP18 Doc. 14

Standing Committee

15. Cooperation with organizations and multilateral environmental agreements

15.1 Cooperation with other biodiversity-related conventions

CoP18 Doc. 15.1

Standing Committee

15.2 Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)

CoP18 Doc. 15.2

Secretariat in collaboration with the Secretariat of CCAMLR

15.3 Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC)

CoP18 Doc. 15.3

Plants Committee

• Decision 17.56 directs SC to inter alia, strengthen cooperation, collaboration and synergies at all rel-evant levels between CITES and the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.

• RC 12.4 on Cooperation between CITES and CCAMLR regarding trade in toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) requests Parties harvesting and/or trading toothfish to cooperate with CCAMLR’s Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS).

• RC 16.5 on Cooperation with the GSPC of the Convention on Biological Diversity provides guide-lines on CITES cooperation with GSPC.

35w w w . s s n . o r g


• Provides an update on related work undertaken.

• Provides:

Terms of reference for the IPBES thematic assessment of the sustainable use of wild species (Annex 1);

CITES’ response to IPBES on CITES issues related to the assessment (Annex 2); and

Draft Resolution on cooperation with IPBES.

• Provides: an update on related activities, including the implementation of the ICCWC Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit,

• the upcoming 2nd edition of the World Wildlife Crime Report, and the ICCWC Project Coordinator position at CITES; and a draft Decision (Annex 1) encouraging Parties to continue funding support to ICCWC.

• Provides a draft Resolution (Annex 1) calling for:

Secretariat to engage in closer cooperation with the World Heritage Centre (the WHC Secretariat) including development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); and

Parties to collaborate with their WHC counterparts to ensure that poaching of listed species and associated illegal trade is addressed.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 2) calling for

• development of a MOU between the Secretariat and the World Heritage Centre for a joint work program, to be submitted to SC for approval.

• Secretariat proposes editorial changes and that SC not be mandated to approve a MOU.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia, direct Secretariat to provide report on implementa-tion of the CITES Tree Species Programme to PC; PC to make recommendations to Secretariat and SC; and SC to provide recommendations to Secretariat, Parties and organizations.

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• Many CITES-listed species inhabit WHC Sites, where they are often poached for international trade.

• WHC Sites are among the most iconic places on Earth; more should be done to protect species inhabiting these areas.

• The editorial suggestions of the Secretariat help clarify the Resolution and Decisions; however, given the important role of SC in overseeing the work of the Secretariat and due to the impact of a joint work program on the budget, the draft MOU should be submitted to SC for approval.

SUPPORT

15.4 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

CoP18 Doc. 15.4

Standing Committee and Secretariat

15.5 International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC)

CoP18 Doc. 15.5

Secretariat

15.6 Cooperation between CITES and the World Heritage Convention

CoP18 Doc. 15.6

Norway

16. CITES tree species programme

CoP18 Doc. 16

Secretariat

• Decisions 16.13 (Rev. CoP17) to 16.16 (Rev. CoP17) direct actions to Parties, SC, AC, PC and Secretariat that, inter alia, include contributing to IPBES and par-ticipate as observer.

• RC 11.3 (Rev. CoP16) on Compliance and enforce-ment, inter alia, instructs the Secretariat to cooperate with ICCWC partner organizations to prepare training materials and facilitate exchange of technical infor-mation between border control authorities.

• RC 16.4 on Cooperation of CITES with other biodi-versity-related Conventions commends cooperation among Secretariats of agreements including the World Heritage Convention (WHC) through the Biodiversity Liaison Group.

• The World Heritage Committee, which implements the WHC, adopted Decision 41 COM 7 reiterating concern about the continued impacts of poaching and illegal logging on World Heritage sites, driven primarily by illegal trade of wildlife species and their products; and requests actions to strengthen the collaboration between CITES and the WHC.

• The CITES Tree Species Programme (an EU funded pro-gramme) began in June 2017 and will end in June 2021.

Continued


• Decisions 17.28 to 17.30 direct SC to establish an intersessional working group to consider how to effectively engage rural communities in CITES pro-cesses and make recommendations to CoP18.

• Decision 17.57 directs SC to examine terminology used in Resolutions and Decisions when referring to “rural,” “indigenous” or “local” communities and make recommendations for harmonization.

• See Background under CoP18 Doc. 17.1.

• RC 4.6 (Rev. CoP17) on Submission of draft reso-lutions, draft decisions and other documents for meetings of the Conference of the Parties deals with deadlines and other technical matters related to the submission of documents to meetings of CoP.

• SSN recommends that CoP18 consider this issue closed, given that SC’s effort did not result in consensus.

• SSN recommends that Parties oppose Secretariat’s pro-posed amendments to RC 16.6 (Rev. CoP17) because:

Species listings must be decided in accordance with Article II of Convention which emphasizes impact of trade on species’ conservation status; and

Parties have repeatedly rejected recommendations to include socio-economic factors in listing decisions, and have decided these should be dealt with during CITES implementation by Parties on a national level.

OPPOSE

• SSN urges CoP18 to continue to reject recommendations to consider socio-economic factors in listing decisions. See SSN View under CoP18 Doc. 17.1 above.

• Proposed amendment of RC 4.6 (Rev. CoP17) is inappro-priate as this Resolution deals with technical matters only and not the content of submitted documents.

• SSN urges CoP18 to oppose proposed amendments to RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) because:

Requiring Parties to consult specific national entities ignores differences in approach among sovereign states; consultation with bodies within a state should be left for Parties to decide based on national laws; and

• Provides CITES Tree Species Programme structure (Annex 2), ToR (Annex 3), requirements for requests for funding of proposals (Annex 4), regional meet-ings and CITES Decisions on tree species (Annex 5), national activities prioritized for funding (Annex 6), and resources and options for Parties (Annex 7).

• Reports that no consensus was achieved by the inter-sessional working group.

• Invites CoP to note this document and consider whether SC should continue its work.

• Secretariat reports that SC did not see a need to draw conclusions regarding terminology used and suggests that Decision 17.57 be deleted.

• Secretariat recommends amending RC 16.6 (Rev. CoP17) on CITES and livelihoods, by recommending that Parties consider:

The impact on rural communities that may be affected when preparing and submitting listing proposals, draft Resolutions and Decisions, and other documents for consideration by CoP, and when reviewing documents from other Parties; and

Including representatives of rural communities that may be affected in official national delegations to meetings of CoP.

• Provides draft amendment to RC 4.6 (Rev. CoP17) agreeing that Parties, when submitting listing pro-posals, draft Resolutions and Decisions, and other documents for consideration by CoP, and when reviewing documents from other Parties, should take account of the impact of the measure proposed on rural communities that may be affected by them.

• Provides amendment to RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) on Criteria for the amendment of Appendices I and II (Annex 6, Format for proposals to amend the Appendices), that proponents:

Provide information on any involvement of rural communities within the range of the species, in the use of, trade in and management of, the species; and

Continued Continued

17. Rural communities

17.1 Report of the Standing Committee

CoP18 Doc.17.1

17.2 Proposed amendments to Resolution Conf. 4.6 (Rev. CoP17) and Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17)

CoP18 Doc.17.2

Namibia and Zimbabwe

Continued

37w w w . s s n . o r g


Provide details of any consultation undertaken to secure comments on the proposal from rural communities living within the range of the species or how the potential impacts of the proposal on rural communities were considered.

• Recommends that SC develop a Resolution on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas.

• Recommends that CoP establish a Rural Communities Committee, whose members include Parties and Rural Communities Organizations whose tasks could include, inter alia:

Drafting Resolutions and Decisions for consideration by CoP;

Providing advice to CoP and the Secretariat on issues related to wildlife trade;

Providing advice to other committees; and

Providing direction and coordination to working groups established by the Committee itself or CoP.

• Reports on implementation of related Decisions.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia, invite Parties to conduct new case studies and incor-porate issues related to CITES and livelihoods into national wildlife conservation and socio-economic development plans; and direct the Secretariat to:

Prepare guidance on how to maximize benefits of trade in CITES-listed species to rural communities and conservation of species;

Commission an evaluation of the possibility of using registered marks of certification for products of CITES-listed species produced by rural communities (draft Decision 18.DD d));

Facilitate organization of a workshop to review the

Decisions on listing proposals must be made in accordance with Article II of the Convention which emphasizes the impact of trade on species’ conservation status.

OPPOSE

• SSN urges CoP18 to continue to reject recommendations to include consideration of socio-economic factors in listing decisions. See SSN View under CoP18 Doc. 17.1 above.

• The UN Declaration addresses actions to be taken by States, not international bodies, and should be imple-mented at the national level.

• The proposal would afford undefined organizations from a single stakeholder community, including bodies that have never been approved as CITES observers, the power to influence CITES agenda items at the same level as AC, PC and SC, whose representatives are chosen by Parties.

• Stakeholder organizations may already make their views known by attending CoPs, SC, AC and PC meetings and participating in Working Groups as observers, and by working with CITES authorities in their home countries.

OPPOSE

• SSN urges CoP18 to reject:

Draft Decision 18.DD d) on registered marks of certification. The Secretariat has neither the means nor ability to verify that each permit issued satisfies the requirements of the Convention, including those relevant to NDFs and legal acquisition. Evaluating the use of certification marks could move CITES towards trade promotion, which is not a CITES objective.

Draft Decision 18.DD g) on establishing global partnerships. Considering the limited funds and staff of Secretariat, priority should be given to enforcement and implementation of the Convention.

Continued Continued


• Decisions 17.36 to 17.40, inter alia:

Direct Parties to conduct new case studies on livelihoods and wildlife trade and incorporate issues related to CITES and livelihoods into their national socio-economic and development plans; and

Direct Secretariat to facilitate organization of workshops and side-events to showcase successful livelihood experiences and report to SC69 and CoP18 on related activities.

17.3 Participatory mechanism for rural communities

CoP18 Doc. 17.3

Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia and Zimbabwe

18. CITES and livelihoods

18.1 Report of the Secretariat

CoP18 Doc. 18.1

Continued




Continued Continued

18.2 Proposal by Peru

CoP18 Doc. 18.2

Peru

18.3 Proposed amendments to Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17)

CoP18 Doc. 18.3

China

guidance and evaluate the possibly using registered marks of certification; and

Make efforts to establish global partnerships with relevant organizations, including conservation organizations and development agencies to work together in activities under CITES and livelihoods (draft Decision 18.DD g)).

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that direct SC to, inter alia:

Re-establish the working group on CITES and livelihoods;

Evaluate possibly using registered marks of certification for products of CITES-listed species produced by rural communities (draft Decision 18.AA a));

Analyze the need for a new or amended existing Resolution on avoiding unintended negative conservation consequences of trade related measures that may have livelihoods and incentive implications (draft Decision 18.AA b)); and

Explore the usefulness of developing an evaluation mechanism to consider the effects of CITES decisions on trade stakeholders (draft Decision 18.AA c)).

• Provides draft Resolution (Annex 2) on International Day for Livelihoods of Rural Communities.

• Provides amendments to RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 1) to include in Annex 6 (Format for proposals to amend the Appendices) a “Livelihood analyses” that:

Specifies how and to what extent the proposed listing, in the whole trade chain, both the supply side and demand side: --would impact livelihoods that are beneficial to the conservation of the species in its range States; and --could create opportunities to change beneficial livelihoods into ones detrimental to the conservation of the species in its range States; and

Specifies how the proposed listing would impact livelihoods in the whole trade chain. If the overall livelihood impact is negative and the listing is still preferred, articulate what remedial measures would

OPPOSE IN PART

• SSN urges CoP18 to oppose:

Draft Decision 18.AA a) regarding the use of certification schemes in CITES (see SSN View under Doc. 18.1); and

Draft Decision 18.AA b) and c); the Review of Significant Trade already addresses implementation of CITES in relation to traded species and seeks to ensure that trade is non-detrimental. In addition, the CITES Livelihoods Handbook, toolkit and guidelines provide materials to help Parties assess impact of implementation of CITES-listing decisions on livelihoods of rural communities.

OPPOSE

• SSN urges CoP18 to continue to reject recommendations to consider socio-economic factors in listing decisions. See SSN View under CoP18 Doc. 17.1 above.

• Decisions on listing proposals must be made in accor-dance with Article II of the Convention which emphasizes the impact of trade on species’ conservation status.

• Parties have repeatedly rejected including consideration of socio-economic factors in listing decisions and have decided these should be dealt with during CITES imple-mentation by Parties on a national level.

• A requirement to specify benefits to livelihoods “in the whole trade chain” could justify opposition to any new listing, or any transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I, that

Continued

39w w w . s s n . o r g


might impact anyone benefiting from overexploitation in importing, transit or exporting countries.

• Parties submitting proposals would be required to under-take economic studies of the entire trade chain of a proposed species and propose measures to ensure liveli-hoods of all those affected — an impossible task.

OPPOSE

• This issue should be considered closed. This initiative met with considerable opposition at CoP17, SC69 and SC70; the opposing views of Parties and stakeholders are unlikely to be reconciled at CoP18.

• The objective of CITES is not to ensure food and nutrition security, cultural identify and security of livelihoods; these issues are beyond the scope of the Convention text.

• By ensuring that international trade is non-detrimental, CITES already helps ensure that wild species continue to meet human needs.

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends that CoP18 support the suggestion of the Secretariat that draft Decision 18.AA be amended to require convening a workshop for Parties and experts to review the guidance and provide training, and encour-aging donors to supply the necessary funding.

SUPPORT

Continued Continued

• Decisions 17.41 to 17.43 direct SC to consider the proposed Resolution contained in CoP17 Doc.17 on Food security and livelihoods that, inter alia, urges Parties to take into account the need for food and nutrition security, preservation of cultural identify and security of livelihoods when making proposed amendments to the Appendices.

• Decisions 17.44 to 17.48, inter alia, direct Secretariat to prepare a report on demand reduction strategies; and SC to make recommendations to CoP18.

• Decisions 17.31 to 17.35 are related to capacity building.

19. Food security and livelihoods

CoP18 Doc. 19

Standing Committee

20. Demand reduction strategies to combat illegal trade in CITES-listed species

CoP18 Doc. 20

Standing Committee

21. Capacity building and identification materials

21.1 Capacity-building and identification materials

CoP18 Doc. 21.1

Animals and Plants Committees

be taken to overcome it after the listing to ensure the long-term survival of the species and the livelihoods of people who live with it.

• Reports that the working group was unable to reach consensus.

• Recommends renewal of Decisions 17.41 to 17.43.

• Recommends that Decisions17.44 to 17.48 be repealed.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia, direct Secretariat to develop CITES guidance on demand-reduction strategies to combat illegal trade in CITES-listed species; and SC to review guidance and make recommendations to CoP19.

• Reports on progress made by AC/PC joint working group on capacity-building and identification materials.

• Recommends draft Decisions that, inter alia, direct AC/PC to review identification materials for improve-ment and RC 11.19 (Rev. CoP16) on Identification Manual for possible amendments.


SUPPORT

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• Recommends that draft Decisions be adopted that, inter alia, direct:

AC/PC to review capacity-building materials;

SC to provide input to refine and consolidate capacity-building efforts in the framework for targeted and general capacity-building (see SC70 Doc.22.1 Annex 3); and

Secretariat to revise related webpages and the CITES Virtual College, and further cooperate with institutions to provide Parties with capacity-building assistance.

• Provides amendments to Decisions that, inter alia, direct SC to develop a questionnaire requesting input from Parties on a comprehensive capacity-building framework (see CoP18 Doc.21.3 Annex 5); and to review the draft Resolution in CoP18 Doc.21.3 Annex 1.

• Provides a draft Resolution on Adopting a compre-hensive framework for CITES capacity building (Annex 1) that, inter alia, calls on Parties to bring CITES capacity-building and compliance assistance efforts together under one comprehensive framework.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 2) that, inter alia, direct SC to establish a Steering Committee to develop a questionnaire on a capacity-building framework; and to lead a workshop to develop a conceptual model for CITES capacity building (with input from AC and PC) and develop operational guidelines.

• Provides a Conceptual Framework for CITES Capacity Building (Annex 3), an Example of a Resource Priority Tracking Tool (Annex 4) and, a draft questionnaire (Annex 5).

• Provides an update on World Wildlife Day 2018 and 2019.

• Provides amendments to RC 17.1 that invite all Parties and non-Parties to designate a lead person on World Wildlife Day and request the Secretariat to seek sup-port for World Wildlife Day from UN organizations.

• See Background on CoP18 Doc. 21.1.

• See Background on CoP18 Doc. 21.1.

• RC 17.1 on World Wildlife Day, inter alia, calls on Parties to use World Wildlife Day to raise awareness regarding wildlife and plants.

21.2 Capacity-building activities specified in Resolutions and Decisions

CoP18 Doc. 21.2

Standing Committee

21.3 Framework to facilitate coordination, transparency and accountability of CITES capacity-building efforts

CoP18 Doc. 21.3

USA

22. United Nations World Wildlife Day

CoP18 Doc. 22

Secretariat

41w w w . s s n . o r g


SUPPORT

SUPPORT IN PART / OPPOSE IN PART

• SSN supports proposed revisions to RC 12.8 (Rev. CoP17) and RC 14.3;

• Concerning proposed changes to RC 4.6 (Rev. CoP17), SSN urges CoP18 to:

Propose deleting text starting with “and normally direct”, as entities other than Parties, SC, AC, PC, and Secretariat may be subject to Decisions;

Oppose removing calls for funding in Decisions as these can help prioritize fundraising efforts; and

Support the oversight role granted to SC, although adoption could add to SC’s already over-crowded agenda.

SUPPORT IN PART/ OPPOSE IN PART

• SSN recommends that CoP18 support the recommenda-tions except:

Decision 17.69 on Compliance matters. If deleted, SSN urges CoP18 to amend Paragraph 36 of RC 14.3 on CITES compliance procedures to make clear that Secretariat must report to each SC meeting and SC must report to each CoP.

Decision 17.120 on Reporting requirements. SSN urges CoP18 to oppose deletion, as a list of reporting requirements is valuable. SSN agrees that RC 4.6 (Rev. CoP17) be revised in the manner proposed by the Secretariat.

Decision 17.127 on Illegal trade in cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). SSN urges CoP18 to oppose deletion because Secretariat has not reported ‘on progress in halting illegal trade in cheetahs’, and evidence suggests that any such progress has been limited at best.1

Continued Continued

• RC 17.5 on Youth Engagement, inter alia, encourages Parties to explore opportunities to engage youth in CITES.

• RC 4.6 (Rev. CoP17) on Submission of draft resolu-tions, draft decisions and other documents for meet-ings of the CoP, para. 4 b) directs Secretariat to update the Decisions after each CoP, to contain all the recommendations (or other forms of decision) that are not recorded in Resolutions and that remain in effect.

23. Youth engagement

CoP18 Doc. 23

Standing Committee

24. Review of Resolutions

CoP18 Doc. 24

Secretariat

25. Review of Decisions

CoP18 Doc. 25

Secretariat

• Provides proposed amendments to RC 17.5 (Annex 1) that, inter alia, invite the Secretariat to collaborate with relevant UN organizations and conventions as well as the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth on youth engagement initiatives.

• Proposes changes (Annexes 1-4) to:

RC 4.6 (Rev. CoP17) on Submission of draft decisions and other documents for meetings of the Conference of the Parties, by urging clear identification of the entity to implement Decisions, directing that Decisions not to call for funding, and requesting SC to review Secretariat proposals to revise existing Decisions and Resolutions for non-substantive errors;

RC 12.8 (Rev. CoP17) on Review of significant trade in specimens of Appendix II species, by clarifying the process for withdrawing trade suspensions; and

RC 14.3 on CITES compliance procedures, by referencing two additional Resolutions that may result in trade suspensions.

• Recommends deletion of Decisions: 17.2, 17.4, 17.6, 17,7 and 17.8 on Rules of Procedure; 17.69 on Compliance matters; 17.85 para. a) on Enforcement matters; 17.86 on Community awareness on wildlife trafficking; 17.104 on Captive-bred and ranched specimens; 17.123 on Reporting requirements; 17.124, 17.126-17.128 and 17.130 on Illegal trade in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus); 17.162-17.163 on Identification (ivory); 17.164-17.165 on Identification (tiger skins); 16.58 (Rev. CoP17) on Physical inspection of timber shipments; 17.173-17.174 on Simplified procedure for permits and certificates; 16.53 on Non-detriment findings; 17.182-17.184 on Sturgeons and paddlefish (Acipenseriformes spp.); 17.190 and 17.191 on Precious corals (Order Antipatharia and family Coralliidae); 17.219-17.221 on Bread palms (Encephalartos spp.); 17.235-17.238 on African wild dog (Lycaon pictus); 16.153 (Rev. CoP17)-16.154 (Rev. CoP17) on East African sandalwood (Osyris lanceo-lata); and 17.246 to 17.249 on Freshwater stingrays


Decision 17.219 on bread palms (Encephalartos spp.). SSN urges CoP18 to adopt a new Resolution containing the language in this Decision and SC’s recommendations on that language contained in Doc. 25 (p. 10).

Decisions 17.246 to 17.249 on Freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygonidae spp.). SSN urges CoP18 to support AC’s recommendation that additional actions pursuant to these Decisions be incorporated into new Decisions.

SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS

• SSN welcomes progress made by several Parties, but notes that some Parties in category 1 have key gaps in their legislation which hinder effective implementation of CITES and is inconsistent with their category 1 des-ignation. These include Cambodia, China, Indonesia and Thailand.2

• Current criteria for assessing whether legislation is compliant with CITES are outdated and fail to take into account key Resolutions and Decisions, including RC 11.3 (Rev. CoP17) and RC 17.6.

• The ICCWC indicators are not fully reflected in the criteria currently used to categorize Parties under the NLP.

• SSN recommends that CoP18 adopt a Decision directing Secretariat, in collaboration with ICCWC and other rel-evant stakeholders, to:

Review current categorization of Parties and criteria used to classify Parties under the NLP; and

Propose to CoP19 changes to NLP categorization, and amendments to RC 8.4 (Rev. CoP15) needed to harmonize and strengthen national CITES legislation.

Continued Continued

(Potamotrygonidae spp.); 17.275-17.284 on Snakes (Serpentes spp.).

• Recommends maintaining with minor amendments Decisions: 17.102 on Captive-bred and ranched specimens; 17.108-17.110 on Review of Significant Trade; Decisions 17.125 and 17.129 on Illegal trade in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus); Decision 17.302 on

• African tree species; and 14.81 on Great whales.

• Requests feedback on whether to maintain Decision 17.120 that requires the Secretariat to maintain a list of reporting requirements. If the requirements are maintained, recommends that they be included in RC 4.6 (Rev. CoP17) on Submission of draft resolutions, draft decisions and other documents for meetings of the Conference of the Parties.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia, direct:

SC to take appropriate compliance measures regarding Parties in NLP categories 2 or 3 that have failed to adopt appropriate measures for effective implementation of CITES; and

Secretariat to analyze information submitted by Parties and assist Parties in developing appropriate measures to implement CITES.

• RC 8.4 (Rev. CoP15) on National laws for implementation of the Convention, inter alia, directs Secretariat to identify Parties whose domestic measures do not provide the authority to meet certain requirements of CITES.

• The CITES National Legislation Project (NLP) is the Convention’s primary mechanism for encouraging and assisting Parties’ efforts to adopt appropriate CITES legislation.

• RC 11.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Compliance and enforce-ment recommends that illegal wildlife trade be treated as a predicate offence.

• RC 17.6 on Prohibiting, preventing, detecting and countering corruption, which facilitates activities con-ducted in violation of the Convention urges Parties to penalize corrupt practices associated with CITES.

• ICCWC has developed key indicators for appropriate national legislation to combat wildlife and forest crime.

26. National laws for implementation of the Convention

CoP18 Doc. 26

Secretariat

43w w w . s s n . o r g


SUPPORT

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• Provides amendment to RC 11.3 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 1), directing Secretariat to report on implementation of Article XIII and RC 14.3 to SC and at each CoP.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 2) that, inter alia, direct SC to develop a new CITES permit policy based on CITES Article VI and RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) and con-sider whether to develop further guidance regarding issuance and verification of permits and certificates.

• Provides draft Decisions that, inter alia, direct:

Secretariat to establish a CAP and report to SC on progress made; and

SC to monitor progress in implementing the CAP and consider whether RC 14.3 on CITES compliance procedures should be amended to reflect the creation of the CAP.


Secretariat to advise on whether scientific and management issues identified in the country-wide Review of Significant Trade for Madagascar can be integrated into other existing CITES mechanisms or activities and provide recommendations to AC, PC and SC; and

AC, PC and SC to provide recommendations to CoP19.

• Provides Madagascar’s progress report on implemen-tation of Decision 17.204.

27. CITES compliance matters

CoP18 Doc. 27

Secretariat

28. Compliance Assistance Programme

CoP18 Doc. 28

Secretariat in consultation with Standing Committee Chair

29. Country-wide Significant Trade Reviews

CoP18 Doc. 29

Animals and Plants Committees in consultation with Standing Committee and Secretariat

30. Compliance in relation to Malagasy ebonies (Diospyros spp.) and pal-isanders and rosewoods (Dalbergia spp.)

30.1 Report of Madagascar

• Decision 17.69 directs Secretariat to report on imple-mentation of Article XIII and RC 14.3 on CITES compli-ance procedures to SC and CoP18.

• Resolutions on compliance include RC 11.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Compliance and enforcement, RC 14.3 on CITES compliance procedures and RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Permits and certificates.

• Decision 17.66 directs SC to consider whether a Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) should be established.

• Decision 17.111 directs AC and PC to explore poten-tial benefits and disadvantages of country-wide sig-nificant trade reviews.

• Decision 17.204 directs Madagascar to take mea-sures regarding trade in Diospyros spp. and Dalbergia spp. including, inter alia, quotas, enforcement mea-sures, audited inventories of stockpiles and identifica-tion materials.



• SSN urges CoP18 to amend:

Decision 18AA to include continued suspension of trade in Malagasy ebonies, palisanders and rosewoods.

Decision 18BB:

-- Add to para. e) “...strengthen control and enforce-ment measures [..] including towards high-level offenders” (see SC69 Summary Record ).

-- Require Madagascar to develop a plan to recover hidden stocks of Dalbergia and Diopsyros spp. and to provide information related to these efforts in its report to SC (see SC69 SR);

- Insert “after substantial progress has been achieved on paragraphs a) to e)” in paragraph f) (proposed by EU; see SC70 Com. 14); and

- Add to paragraph g): “provide written reports on progress [..] and on progress with the implementation of this Decision to the Conference of the Parties at its 19th meeting.”

SUPPORT


• SSN is concerned that a majority of CITES Parties failed to submit annual illegal trade reports.3

• Recommends deletion of Decisions 17.203 to 17.208.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that differ from current Decisions in not including:

Reference to Madagascar trade suspensions (Decision 17.203, para. a) in direction to source, transit and destinations Parties;

Direction to Parties to develop their own action plans to manage stockpiles of these species from Madagascar (Decision 17.203, para. b);

Requirement for Madagascar to report to CoP (Decision 17.204, para. g); and

Direction to SC to assess whether the conditions for a partial sale of audited stocks are in place (Decision 17.207).

• Provides main findings of the report, including priorities for consideration in improving regulation of domestic controls of ivory trade (addressing the unintended effects of bans, online markets, enforcement, and reg-istration of personal items).

• Provides amendments to RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 1) that, inter alia, urge Parties that close domestic markets to enhance border controls and collaborate with neighboring countries that have not taken similar measures.

• Provides amendments (Annex 2) to Decisions 17.87/17.88 directing Secretariat and SC to conduct and review a study on controls in trade in species “other than elephant ivory”.

• Reports that next phase of the study will focus on rhi-noceroses, Tibetan antelope, tiger, cheetah, leopard and pangolins.

• Reports that 120 Parties have failed to submit their annual illegal trade report for 2016, and 123 Parties failed to report for 2017.

Continued ContinuedContinued


31. Domestic markets for frequently illegally traded specimens

CoP18 Doc. 31

Secretariat

32. Enforcement matters

CoP18 Doc. 32

Secretariat

• Decisions 17.203 to 17.208 direct Parties, Secretariat, Madagascar, PC and SC to take actions regarding Malagasy ebonies (Diospyros spp.) and palisanders and rosewoods (Dalbergia spp.).

• Decisions 17.87/17.88 direct SC to review Secretariat’s report on domestic controls in con-sumer markets for specimens of CITES-listed spe-cies for which international trade is predominantly illegal and make recommendations to CoP18.

• The first phase focuses on domestic trade controls in consumer markets for elephant ivory.

• RC 11.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Compliance and enforce-ment, inter alia, instructs Secretariat to submit a report on enforcement matters at each SC meeting and each CoP.

45w w w . s s n . o r g

DOCUMENT EFFECT OF DOCUMENT SSN VIEW

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia, direct Secretariat to convene a Task Force on illegal trade in specimens of CITES-listed tree species.

• Provides proposed amendments to RC 11.3 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 2) to consider annually any new appli-cations for inclusion in the electronic directory of laboratories conducting wildlife forensic testing and review existing listings every two years.

• Provides:

A list of laboratories included in the directory;

Document on Development of an electronic directory of laboratories that conform to a defined minimum stan-dard for conducting wildlife forensic testing (Annex 4).

• Provides draft Decisions encouraging Parties to make full use of guidelines developed by INTERPOL on how to combat wildlife crime linked to the Internet and draw upon the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation for assistance in combating wildlife cybercrime.

• Provides amendments to RC 11.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Compliance and enforcement (Annex 1) to include additional actions for Parties to take regarding illegal online trade in wildlife.

• Provides draft Decisions that, inter alia:

Encourage Parties to provide Secretariat best practice models that pertain to regulation of online marketplaces and social media platforms; and

Direct Secretariat to engage with relevant social media platforms, search engines and e-commerce platforms to address illegal online wildlife trade and provide assistance and expertise regarding wildlife cybercrime enforcement operations and investigations.

• SSN recommends that CoP18 adopt a Decision requesting Parties which have not submitted annual illegal trade reports for 2016 and/or 2017 to do so no later than 6 months from the end of CoP18, and directing SC to con-sider appropriate measures for failure to do so, including measures under RC 14.3 on CITES compliance proce-dures, at SC73.

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• Decision 17.83 paragraph c) directs Secretariat to compile an electronic directory of laboratories that conduct wildlife forensic testing.

• RC 11.7 (Rev. CoP17) on National reports urges Parties, commencing in 2017, to submit an annual illegal trade report by 31 October each year covering actions in the preceding year.

• Decisions 15.57, 17.92 and 17.93 direct Parties and Secretariat to take a variety of actions regarding wild-life cybercrime.

• Decision 15.57 and Decisions 17.92 to 17.96 provide direction to Parties, Secretariat and SC regarding wildlife cybercrime.


33. Combating wildlife cybercrime


CoP18 Doc. 33.1


CoP18 Doc. 33.2



Parties in the region to identify priority actions and present these to ICCWC;

Secretariat to support Parties in the region in addressing illegal trade in wildlife and report to SC on actions taken;

SC to consider Secretariat’s report and PC report on the inclusion of Pterocarpus erinaceus in the Review of Significant Trade and make recommendations as needed; and

Importing Parties to scrutinize consignments from West and Central Africa and accompanying documents to ensure species are not illegally traded.

• Provides recommendations to Parties in the region (Annex 2); tentative budget (Annex 3); and UNODC/CITES West and Central Africa Wildlife Crime Threat Assessment (Annex 4).

• Reports that SC working group did not reach con-sensus and invites Parties to agree that the Decisions not be renewed.

• Provides draft Decisions:

Directing Secretariat to collect information on existing networks and resources on the management of seized and confiscated live animals and make it available to Parties; and

Encouraging Parties to make use of the information collected by Secretariat.

• Secretariat’s comments: states few Parties seem to be implementing paragraph 3 c) of RC 17.8, which calls on Parties to report on the disposal of commercial quantities of live specimens of Appendix I or II species; states this paragraph is superseded by the new annual illegal trade report in RC 11.17 (Rev. CoP17); and rec-ommends that this paragraph be deleted.

SUPPORT


• SSN recommends including language in draft Decision 18.AA directing Secretariat to consult relevant experts, NGOs and other stakeholders in collecting information.

• SSN opposes deletion of paragraph 3 c) of RC 17.8. Secretariat guidelines on annual reports4 make inclusion of information on status of seized or confiscated speci-mens “optional”. SSN is concerned about lack of submis-sion of annual illegal trade reports, and recommends that Parties either retain the existing language or include new language urging Parties to regularly submit the reports called for in RC 11.17 (Rev. CoP17), including information on disposal of confiscated specimens.

34. Wildlife crime enforcement support in West and Central Africa

CoP18 Doc. 34


35. Disposal of Confiscated Specimens

CoP18 Doc. 35

Standing Committee

• Decisions 17.97 to 17.100 direct Secretariat to com-mission a report on illegal wildlife trade in West and Central Africa; and SC to review the report and make recommendations.

• CITES Article VIII (4) states that Mangament Authorites should return confiscated live specimens to the State of export or to a rescue center or another appropriate place. Article VIII (5) defines ‘rescue center’ as a place designated by the MA to “look after the wel-fare” of confiscated living specimens.

• RC 17.8 on Disposal of illegally traded and confis-cated specimens of CITES-listed species provides recommendations and guidance.

• Decisions 17.118 and 17.119 direct the Secretariat to distribute a questionnaire to Parties concerning the usefulness of RC 17.8 guidance; and SC to, inter alia, consider possible amendments to RC 17.8, whether a list of rescue centres might facilitate the disposal of live specimens, and report to CoP18.

47w w w . s s n . o r g



• SSN welcomes engagement of UNODC and strongly urges Parties and donors to provide funding required.

• SSN is concerned about lack of transparency and account-ability in relation to tackling enforcement matters. Illegal trade reports are not publicly available, and analyses from these reports are not made available in time for relevant meetings of SC and CoP.

• SSN recommends that CoP18 amend the draft Decision to:

Enable public access to the illegal trade data management system excluding any sensitive information; and

Request UNODC to submit the annual deliverables listed in Section 3.3 of Annex 1 in time for meetings of SC and CoP. For the latter, SSN recognizes that sensitive information should be excluded.

SUPPORT

SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENT

• SSN urges Parties to adopt the draft Resolution, and sug-gests including a new paragraph 7 c): “In accordance with CITES Article VIII (8), making information referred to in paragraph 7 a) and b) available to the public where this is not inconsistent with the laws of the Party concerned.”

SUPPORT

• The draft Resolution provides a common basis for under-standing and applying this key requirement.

• Provides a draft Decision directing Secretariat to con-tract UNODC to establish, host and maintain a data-base for storage and management of illegal trade data collected through annual illegal trade reports.

• Provides amendments to RC 11.17 (Rev. CoP17) on National reports so that data included in the database should be made available to Parties for research and analysis of wildlife and forest crime as it affects them.

• Provides a proposal from UNODC, approved by SC, for A sustainable framework for the storage, manage-ment and dissemination of data collected through CITES Annual Illegal Trade Reports (Annex 1).

• Notes that:

Wildlife ranger personnel are vital to achievement of the objectives of CITES;

Nearly 1,000 rangers have been killed in the line of duty in the last decade; and

Rangers need proper medical care, training, shelter, clean water, and key equipment.

• Invites Parties to note this document and consider ways it can address these problems.

• Provides a draft Resolution on Designation and role of Management Authorities (Annex) that, inter alia, provides guidance regarding designation of these authorities, the issuance of permits and certificates, reporting obligations, registers, communication with the Secretariat and other Parties and other duties.

• Provides a draft Resolution (Annex 1) that, inter alia, provides guidance for making legal acquisition find-ings, and circumstances requiring verification of these or other legal findings.


• Decisions 17.121 and 17.122 direct Secretariat and SC to make recommendations regarding establish-ment of a sustainable global framework to store and manage illegal trade data collected through Parties’ annual illegal trade reports.

• CITES Article IX requires Parties to designate one or more Management Authorities (MAs) competent to, inter alia, issue permits or certificates.

• SC69 established an intersessional working group on Management Authorities with a mandate to assist the Secretariat in the preparation of a draft resolution.

• CITES Articles III-V require that an export permit shall only be granted when the MA is satisfied that the specimen was not obtained in contravention of the laws of that State for the protection of fauna and flora.

36. Storage and management of illegal trade data collected through the Parties’ annual illegal trade reports

CoP18 Doc. 36

Standing Committee

37. Working conditions of wildlife rangers and their implications for implementation of CITES

CoP18 Doc. 37

Nepal

38. Designation and Roles of Management Authorities

CoP18 Doc. 38

Secretariat

39. Guidance for Making Legal Acquisition Findings

CoP18 Doc. 39

Standing Committee


• Decisions 17.65 to 17.68 direct Parties, SC and Secretariat to, inter alia, prepare guidance for veri-fying the legal acquisition of specimens of CITES-listed species to be exported.

• CITES Article II states that trade in listed species must be in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.

• Articles III to V require that an export permit shall only be granted when the Management Authority (MA) of the State of export is satisfied that the specimen was legally obtained.

• Article VIII requires Parties to enforce CITES provi-sions and to prohibit trade in violation thereof.

• Decisions 17.65 to 17.68, inter alia, direct:

SC to provide guidance on making of legal acquisition findings; and

Secretariat to submit to SC a proposal for further guidance for such findings.

• SC rejected inclusion of text on due diligence and importing country responsibilities in the draft Resolution on Verification of legal acquisition of CITES specimens (see SC70 Doc. 27.1), citing con-cerns that these issues were not within the scope of Decisions 17.65 to 17.68.

• Decisions 17.156 to 17.159, inter alia, direct SC to re-establish a Working Group on Electronic Systems and Information Technologies.

• SSN suggests that the preambular text of the draft Resolution cross-reference the relevant provisions of RC 11.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Compliance and enforcement if amended as proposed in CoP18 Doc. 40.

SUPPORT

• Proposed revisions acknowledge the shared responsibility of exporting and importing Parties to ensure that trade is consistent with CITES.

• SSN opposes deleting paragraph 2(a)(v), which is impor-tant because it refers to trade in contravention of the laws of any country involved in the transaction, not only the importing and exporting countries, and is therefore broader than the Convention text.

• SSN believes that paragraph 2(b) should remain in the present Resolution due to its logical connection with para-graph 2(a).

• SSN opposes deleting paragraph 4 as it relates to the ability of any Party, not just those involved in a transaction, to seek consultation if it has reason to believe that trade is detrimental to a species.

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends CoP18 support draft Decisions as amended by Secretariat except that direction to SC to establish a working group should be retained.

• Secretariat provides draft Decisions directing:

Secretariat to request information on this issue from Parties, organize workshops and report to SC on implementation of this Resolution;

SC to make recommendations to CoP19 for improving the verification of legal acquisition.

• Provides proposed revisions to RC 11.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Compliance and enforcement (Annex 1), that include obligations on importing countries to verify the validity of CITES documents and ensure due diligence in clearing them, particularly with respect to legal acquisition find-ings, and recommend that MA of the importing Party:

Consult with the exporting country’s MA if it has reason to believe that the required CITES findings have not been made or that the laws of any country involved in the transaction have been contravened; and

Not authorize the transaction if its concerns are not addressed adequately.

• Secretariat’s comments suggest, inter alia, that:

Paragraph 2(a)(v) (see details in column to right) is superfluous and should be deleted;

Paragraph 2(b) (see details in column to right) should be included in the draft Resolution on Designation and role of Management Authorities;

Paragraph 4 (see details in column to right) is redundant and should be deleted.

• Provides draft Decisions that, inter alia,

Direct SC to re-establish a related working group; develop guidelines for CITES permit issuance when using electronic CITES permit systems and information exchanges; develop recommendations for any revision of RC12.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Permits and certificates and RC 11.17 (Rev. CoP17) on National reports; and

Direct Secretariat to organize workshop on modern customs procedures for improved control of trade in CITES-listed species; and prepare a report on risk management systems for efficient control of trade in listed species.

40. Due Diligence by CITES and Obligations of ImportingCountries

CoP18 Doc. 40

USA

41. Electronic systems and information technologies

CoP18 Doc. 41

Standing Committee

Continued


49w w w . s s n . o r g


• Secretariat proposes amendments (Annex 2) that include: actions directed to SC should also be directed to Secretariat; deletion of direction to SC to establish a working group; and additional Decisions that, inter alia, direct Secretariat to undertake a study on CITES permit authentication and control.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia:

Recommend Parties use the following definition: Traceability is the ability to access information on specimens and events in a CITES species supply chain 5; and

Direct Secretariat to post the definition and relevant documents on the CITES website.

• Proposes deletion of all Decisions relating to traceability as the work has been completed.

• Provides draft Decisions that, inter alia,

Invite Parties to provide related information to the Secretariat;

Direct AC and PC to review the study and make recommendations to SC; and

Direct SC to discuss how to apply the term “readily recognizable part or derivative” to trade in products of biotechnology that might affect international trade in CITES-listed species in a manner that would threaten their survival; and make recommendations to CoP19.

• Secretariat recommends that the Decision directed to AC/PC be amended to direct AC/PC to “monitor the most recent scientific and technological advance-ments and applications that may lead to the synthetic production of specimens of CITES-listed species”.

SUPPORT

• Proposed definition of traceability is appropriately limited to CITES processes.

• Definition and related documents do not add requirements to the CITES permitting process, although traceability sys-tems can and should be used to support findings required by CITES, including legal acquisition and non-detriment findings (NDFs).


• SSN generally supports the draft Decisions but urges Parties to focus discussion not on the varied scientific processes but instead on the products that result.

• The definitions of “specimen” in the Convention and “readily recognizable” in RC. 9.6 (Rev. CoP16) are suf-ficient to support regulation of trade in many of these products under CITES.

• SSN urges CoP18 to amend RC 9.6 (Rev. CoP16) to rec-ognize that if a specimen is readily recognizable because it appears to be a part or derivative of, or is claimed to be a synthetic derivative of, a CITES-listed species, then it is covered by the Convention.

Continued

• Decision 17.152 directs SC to establish a working group to, inter alia:

· Recommend a working definition of ‘traceability’ to assist implementation of traceability systems; and

· Develop and make use of umbrella guidelines, and recommend standards, to develop traceability sys-tems for different species that are mutually sup-portive and that generate standardized data.

• UNCTAD prepared documents relating to guidelines and best practices.

• CITES Article I defines “specimen” as, inter alia, “any animal or plant… and any readily recognizable part or derivative thereof”.


Secretariat to review relevant CITES provisions, Resolutions and Decisions to examine how Parties have interpreted RC 9.6 (Rev. CoP16), on Trade in readily recognizable parts and derivatives, for wildlife products produced from synthetic or cultured DNA; and

AC, PC and SC to review these findings and make recommendations.

• The final study, Wildlife products produced from syn-thetic or cultured DNA, was provided to SC70; SC70 agreed that Decisions would be drafted for CoP18.

42. Traceability

CoP18 Doc. 42

Secretariat in consultation with the Chairs of the Standing Committee and its Working Group on Traceability

43. Specimens Produced from Synthetic or Cultured DNA

CoP18 Doc. 43

Standing Committee

44. Definition of the term 'appropriate and acceptable destinations'


• Provides, for adoption, non-binding guidance for deter-mining whether a proposed recipient of a living specimen is suitably equipped to house and care for it (Annex 1).


Direct the Secretariat to create a CITES webpage for relevant information (references, best practices) from Parties on this issue;

Secretariat to consult with Parties with Appendix II elephants that have exported wild-caught elephants to a non-Range State since CoP11;

AC to prepare guidance on determining whether trade promotes in situ conservation, and prepare guidance for housing and care of living specimens of African elephants and southern white rhinos; and

SC to consider and endorse recommendation of AC.

• Provides amendments to RC 11.20 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex) to, inter alia, restrict the definition of “appro-priate and acceptable destinations” to “in situ conser-vation programmes or secure areas in the wild within the species’ natural range, except in the case of tem-porary transfers in emergency situations.”

• Requests CoP to:

Recommend guidance to: evaluate whether a proposed recipient of a living specimen is suitably equipped to house and care for it; how to determine whether trade would promote in situ conservation; and provide more detailed species-specific guidance for living specimens of African elephants and southern white rhinos to be included as an Annex to RC 11.20 (Rev. CoP17); and

Adopt the proposed amendments in the Annex and the draft Decisions provided in CoP18 Doc. 44.2.

• Invites CoP to adopt Decisions (Annex 1) that:

Direct Secretariat to inventory and review materials and guidance for the making of NDFs available to the Parties, identify any apparent gaps or needs, and organize a workshop to review these materials;

Direct AC and PC to review this work; and

Encourage Parties to contribute funding and use materials resulting from this work.

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends that Parties support the adoption of the proposed draft guidance and associated Decisions.

• SSN urges Parties to view the proposals in CoP18 Doc. 44.1 as a first step in a process that will ultimately see the emergence of more comprehensive generic and spe-cies-specific guidance.

SUPPORT

• The negative impacts associated with the capture of live elephants from the wild for captive purposes are well documented.

• There should be no trade in live wild-caught African ele-phants for captive use. In situ conservation programmes or secure areas in the wild within the species’ natural range should be the only destinations considered “appro-priate and acceptable” for wild elephants.

• SSN recommends Parties refer to SC69 Inf 36 for further information.

SUPPORT


CoP18 Doc. 44.1

Standing Committee in consultation with Chair of Animals Committee

44.2 International trade in live African elephants: Proposed revision of Resolution Conf. 11.20 (Rev. CoP17) on Definition of the term 'appropriate and acceptable destinations'

CoP18 Doc. 44.2

Burkina Faso, Jordan, Lebanon, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan and Syrian Arab Republic

45. Non-Detriment Findings

CoP18 Doc. 45

Chairs of Animals and Plants Committees

• Current listings of Loxodonta africana (Botswana and Zimbabwe) and Ceratotherium simum simum (South Africa and Swaziland) allow trade in live animals to “appropriate and acceptable destinations”.

• Decisions 17.178 to 17.180, inter alia, direct SC to:

• Regarding RC 11.20 (Rev. CoP17) on Definition of the term ‘appropriate and acceptable destinations’, make recommendations and develop guidance for CoP18; and

• Consider report of Secretariat and information from AC on implementation of Article III, paragraphs 3(b) and 5(b), re findings that recipients of living specimens of Appendix-I species must be suitably equipped to house and care for them, and make rec-ommendations and guidance for CoP18.

• See Background for CoP18 Doc. 44.1

• CITES Articles III and IV require, inter alia, findings that the export, import and introduction from the sea are not detrimental to the survival of the survival of the species.

• RC 16.7 Rev. CoP17) on Non-detriment findings pro-vides specific information about how to make these findings.

51w w w . s s n . o r g



• SSN supports the removal of Kenya and Malawi from RC 10.14 (Rev. CoP16) per their request.

• SSN urges CoP18 to support extending Decisions 17.114-17.117 for all Parties with quotas in RC 10.14 (Rev. CoP16) and not only the three that did not provide information: information provided to AC did not include relevant data on population trends, threats, or management; indepen-dent scientific review of these quotas is needed.

• SSN urges CoP18 to establish a zero export quota in RC 10.14 (Rev. CoP16) for Parties that fail to provide informa-tion to AC since non-detriment has not been established.

• SSN recommends that CoP18 support proposed amend-ments to RC 9.21 (Rev. CoP13) in Annex 2 of Doc. 46 except:

Text in paragraph 1 b) ii) should be retained.

Paragraph 2 should be amended as follows: “…if new scientific or management data have emerged to indicate that the population … can no longer sustain the agreed quota, consult with that range State in order to find a solution to the concerns raised. the quota should be immediately suspended, and the range State concerned should be required to submit an evidenced proposal to the next CoP should it wish to have its quota reinstated

New paragraphs should be included:

--to establish a routine, science-based review and revision process for quotas as called for at AC30 and SC70,6 including a review of evidence that trophy hunting produces conservation benefits for the species concerned (per RC 17.9);

--requiring range States to report to AC after each CoP; AC to review reports and any independent scientific data, and make recommendations to SC; and

--stating that a Party that fails report to AC will lose its quota.

• SC recommends:

Deletion of Kenya and Malawi from RC 10.14 (Rev. CoP16) per their request;

Extending Decisions 17.114-17.117 for Botswana, CAR and Ethiopia; and

Amending RC 9.21 (Rev. CoP13) to establish a process to review quotas.

• Secretariat recommends additional draft Decisions, based on outcome of First Meeting of Range States for the Joint CITES–CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) African Carnivores Initiative (ACI1), that:

Encourage Parties with RC 10.14 quotas to exchange information and lessons learnt regarding the process for determining that quotas are non-detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild;

Direct Secretariat, subject to external funding and in cooperation with range States and relevant experts, to encourage and support Parties with the above; and to develop guidance in the making of NDFs for leopard trophies; and

Direct AC to review information submitted by Secretariat and make recommendations to Secretariat and range States, as appropriate.

• Provides draft amendments to RC 9.21 (Rev. CoP13) that, inter alia:

Propose amending paragraph 1 b) to state that whenever the CoP has set an export quota for an Appendix I species, this action by the Parties satisfies the requirements of Article III regarding the findings “that the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species, and that the purposes of the import will not be detrimental to the survival of the species, and that the import is not to be used for primarily commercial purposes, provided that the quota is not exceeded. i) the quota is not exceeded; and ii) no new scientific or management data have emerged to indicate that the population of the species in the range State concerned can no longer sustain the agreed quota.

46. Quotas for leopard hunting trophies

CoP18 Doc. 46

Standing Committee with a section by the Secretariat

• Leopard (Panthera pardus): Appendix I; Vulnerable, estimated decline >30% over three generations (22.3 years) (IUCN 2016); poorly-managed trophy hunting a major threat (id.).

• RC 9.21 (Rev. CoP13) on Interpretation and application of quotas for species included in Appendix I, provides process for establishing and maintaining quotas.

• RC 10.14 (Rev. CoP16) on Quotas for leopard hunting trophies and skins for personal use, provides Party-specific export quotas.

• Decisions 17.114-17.117 on Quotas for leopard hunting trophies, direct:

Parties with quotas to review them, consider if they are not detrimental to survival of the species in the wild, and share the outcome and the basis for this determination with AC30;

Secretariat to support reviews upon Party request, subject to external funding;

AC to consider this and any other information, and provide recommendations to Parties and SC; and

SC to consider AC recommendations and make recommendations to CoP18.

• AC30 considered documents submitted by Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe and, inter alia:

Requested SC to consider establishing a process to review and, if necessary, revise quotas established under RC 9.21 (Rev. CoP13); and

Invited Secretariat to request Botswana, Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia to submit information to SC.

• SC:

Received information from CAR and Ethiopia but not Botswana, and proposed renewal of the Decisions for these countries;

· Agreed to propose removal of Kenya and Malawi from RC 10.14 (Rev. CoP16), at their request; and

Continued Continued


OPPOSE

• Proposal does not include “details of the scientific basis for the proposed quota” as required by RC 9.21 (Rev. CoP13).

• No sources for population sizes cited.

• No site-specific information is provided to substantiate claims that the community-based program has improved population status.

• Other than IUCN (2015), all citations are from 2012 and earlier. Without more recent information, we cannot tell if populations are currently stable or increasing.

• No details are provided on location of communities to be added to the program, or which markhor populations would be affected.

• No information is provided on the size of markhor population(s) that would be affected by the increased export quota.

• Proposal does not address the serious threat to markhor in northern Pakistan caused by the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.7

OPPOSE

• A 0.5% limit would almost double the current export quota, to 9.

• Based on information provided in the proposal, offtake would increase to 48% of potential annual population increment (taking account of poaching losses), contrary to RC 9.21 (Rev. CoP13) on Interpretation and application of quotas for species included in Appendix I.

• Quotas should not be increased when species remains under poaching threat.

Adds paragraph 2: “INSTRUCTS the Standing Committee and the Animals Committee to keep under review quotas for species included in Appendix I established by the Conference of the Parties, and if new scientific or management data have emerged to indicate that the population of the species in the range State concerned can no longer sustain the agreed quota, consult with that range State in order to find a solution to the concerns raised.”

• Proposes to amend RC 10.15 (Rev. CoP14) to increase Pakistan’s markhor export quota to 20.

• Claims that markhor populations in Pakistan are stable or increasing according to the IUCN Red List.

• Provides country-wide population sizes for the two subspecies (C. f. falconeri and C. f. megaceros).

• Claims that that the community-based trophy hunting program in place for three populations has resulted in improvement in markhor population status.

• Indicates that the increased export quota would be used to expand the community-based trophy hunting program to other communities.

• Requests an increase in South Africa’s export quota for adult males not to exceed 0.5% of the total South African population in the year of export (quota applies equally to all three subspecies).

• Reports that:

South Africa’s estimated population was 1,893 in 2015; the most numerous subspecies (D. b. minor) is declining annually; populations of the other two subspecies (D. b. bicornis and D. b. michaeli) are very small (254 and 79).


47. Enhancement of quotas for markhor hunting trophies

CoP18 Doc. 47

Pakistan

48. Black rhinoceros hunting trophies: Export quota for South Africa

CoP18 Doc. 48

South Africa

· Invited Secretariat to propose amending RC 9.21 (Rev. CoP13) to establish a process to review quotas.

• RC 10.15 (Rev. CoP14), on Establishment of quotas for markhor hunting trophies approves an export quota of 12 markhor (Capra falconeri) hunting trophies from Pakistan per calendar year and states that proposals to establish or increase quotas require consent of the CoP in accordance with RC 9.21 (Rev. CoP13).

• RC 9.21 (Rev. CoP13), para. 1, states that such pro-posals must include “details of the scientific basis for the proposed quota.”

• IUCN (2015) notes: many subpopulations of C. f. fal-coneri in Pakistan are very small (<100) and their level of connectivity is unknown; there is no recent estimate for C. f. megaceros in Pakistan outside of the Torghar Hills; old estimates indicated other populations were very small (≤100).

• RC 13.5 (Rev. CoP14) on Establishment of export quotas for black rhinoceros hunting trophies approves an annual export quota of five hunting trophies of adult male black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from South Africa and five from Namibia, and makes recommendations when reviewing appli-cations for permits.

• D. bicornis is native to Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe; extir-pated in Cameroon; Chad and possibly Ethiopia; rein-troduced in Botswana, Malawi, Eswatini, Zambia.8

ContinuedContinued

53w w w . s s n . o r g


ContinuedContinuedContinued

• Reason for proposal unclear as South Africa is not using its existing quota.

SUPPORT IN PART/OPPOSE IN PART

• SSN notes that 12,705 kg of pangolin scales (Manis spp.) were exported as Appendix II specimens in 2017.10

• SSN recommends that CoP18 support the new legal anal-ysis by the Secretariat and the proposed amendments to RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) and RC 13.6 (Rev. CoP16).

• SSN recommends that CoP18 oppose the draft Decision because the proposed amendments to RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) and RC 13.6 (Rev. CoP16) provide sufficient guid-ance and clarification, in most cases.

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends that CoP18 support the proposed amendment to RC 13.6 (Rev. CoP16), either as an alter-native to the Secretariat’s proposed amendment to RC. 12.3 (Rev. CoP17), which is similar, or in addition to it for further clarity.

Poaching peaked in 2015 when 62 were killed (an estimated 3.3% of the wild population) compared to 12 in 2010;

About 0.2% per annum (on average 3-4 bulls) of national population was hunted for trophies during the period 2002 to 2015; and

South Africa exported fewer than the current quota of 5 trophies annually 2005-2015.

• Provides draft Decision (Annex 1) directing SC to con-sider whether further guidance relating to the period of transition between adoption of a listing proposal and its entry into force 90 days later (per Article XV) should be developed and incorporated into a Resolution, and report to CoP19.

• Provides amendments to:

RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Permits and certificates (Annex 2) that, inter alia, resolve that specimens transferred from Appendix III to II or I, or from Appendix II to Appendix I, shall be subject to the provisions applicable to them at the time of export, re-export, import or introduction from the sea; and

RC 13.6 (Rev. CoP16) para. 1 (Annex 3), adding a subparagraph stating that only specimens acquired before the date on which the species concerned was first included in the Appendices qualify for the pre-Convention exemption.

• Provides draft amendment to RC 13.6 (Rev. CoP16) stating that, in the case of a species transferred from one Appendix to another, trade in specimens of the species concerned shall be subject to CITES provi-sions applicable to those specimens at the time of import, export, introduction from the sea, or re-export.

• Species listed as Critically Endangered (IUCN 2011); global population 5,250.

• Greatest threat is poaching for horn.9

• CITES Article VII para. 2 exempts specimens “acquired before the provisions of the present Convention applied to that specimen” from the provisions of Articles III, IV and V [“pre-Convention exemption”].

• At CoP17, pangolins (Manis spp.) were transferred from Appendix II to I. SC69 discussed whether stock-piles of pangolin specimens acquired prior to CoP17 qualified under the pre-Convention exemption and could be traded as Appendix II.

• SC69 recommended that Secretariat prepare a document for consideration at CoP18 relating to implications associated with different interpreta-tions of RC 13.6 (Rev. CoP16) on Implementation of Article VII, paragraph 2, concerning “pre-Convention” specimens.


49. Implications of the transfer of a species to Appendix I


CoP18 Doc. 49.1

49.2 Trade in 'pre-Appendix-I' specimens

CoP18 Doc. 49.2

Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal


• Provides amendments to RC 10.13 (Rev. CoP15) (Annexes 1 and 2) that, inter alia: include, changing “timber” to “tree” species, and amended text regarding identification and forensics for tree species.

• Secretariat recommends the deletion of para. 1) f) of the Resolution containing provisions for extending the period of validity of, and/or changing the destination on the export permit or re-export certificate for tree prod-ucts other than logs, sawn wood and veneer sheets.

• Reports that a SC working group was unable to reach consensus, and invites CoP to continue Decision 17.170.

• Secretariat suggests that the SC “focus on identi-fying the objectives of existing provisions agreed by the Parties concerning controls on stocks and stock-piles… and the resources required by the Parties and the Secretariat to implement them.”

• Provides a report on implementation of Decision 16.48 (Rev. CoP17) on introduction from the sea.

• Invites CoP to, inter alia, adopt draft Decisions (Annex 1) to charge the Secretariat with monitoring introduction from the sea, particularly with respect to chartering.

• Invites CoP to adopt amendments:

To Decision 14.54 (Rev. CoP17) re-establishing the working group (Annex 1); and

To RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 2) that include, inter alia, clarifying that the purpose code for export may be different from the purpose code for import; and providing guidance on which purpose codes to use for various CITES certificates (e.g., musical instruments, travelling exhibitions).

SUPPORT


• SSN recommends adoption of the draft Decision with Secretariat’s clarification that the SC’s mandate should also include the terms of reference agreed at SC69; and that SC should build on work that has already taken place on this issue.

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

SSN supports the guidance on use of purpose codes for various CITES certificates.

50. Amendments to Resolution Conf. 10.13 (Rev. CoP15) on Implementation of the Convention for timber species

CoP18 Doc. 50

Standing Committee

51. Stocks and Stockpiles

CoP18 Doc. 51

Standing Committee

52. Introduction from the Sea

CoP18 Doc. 52

Standing Committee

53. Purpose Codes

CoP18 Doc. 53

Standing Committee

54. Identification of specimens in trade

• PC22 requested Secretariat to submit a document on possible amendments to RC 10.13 (Rev. CoP15).

• Decision 17.170 directs SC to review existing provisions agreed by Parties concerning controls on stocks of specimens of CITES-listed species and report to CoP18.

• Introduction from the sea relates to the issuance of CITES documents for specimens caught in areas beyond the jurisdiction of any State.

• Because the regime for introduction from the sea is relatively new11, Parties have requested the Secretariat to keep these provisions under review.

• Purpose codes refer to the purpose of transactions involving listed species (e.g. “commercial” is pur-pose code T); RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Permits and certificates, establishes 12 purpose codes.

• Decision 14.54 (Rev. CoP17) directs SC to establish a working group to consider issues relating to evaluation of the use and definition of purpose codes and pro-pose amendments to RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) if needed.

55w w w . s s n . o r g


SUPPORT

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia, direct Secretariat to undertake a review of RC 11.19 (Rev. CoP16) on Identification Manual and SC to submit revision to CoP19.

• Secretariat recommends that AC/PC establish a joint working group to review identification materials and RC 11.19 (Rev. CoP16).

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia, direct Parties, Secretariat and PC to improve resources for timber and wood products identification and pri-oritize the species of rosewoods and palisanders that would most benefit from the development of timber identification tools.

• Reports that the study was not undertaken because of a lack of funding.

• Invites Parties to extend Decisions 16.136 (Rev. CoP17) to16.138 (Rev. CoP17).


Secretariat to analyze CITES priorities, challenges and opportunities in matters related to trade in medicinal plants; and

PC and SC to review the report and make recommendations to Parties and CoP19.

• Provides amendments to RC 11.15 (Rev. CoP12) (Annex 1) to include “diagnostic and forensic research specimens.”

• Provides amendments to RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 2) that, inter alia, provide additional recommendations regarding processing applications for trade in bio-logical samples.Continued Continued

54.1 Identification Manual

CoP18 Doc. 54.1

Secretariat, in consultation with AC/PC Chairs

Identification of CITES-listed tree species

CoP18 Doc. 54.2

Plants Committee

54.3 Identification of sturgeons and paddlefish specimens in trade

CoP18 Doc. 54.3

Secretariat

55. CITES implementation for trade in medicinal plant species

CoP18 Doc. 55

Secretariat

56. Simplified procedure for permits and certificates

CoP18 Doc. 56

Standing Committee

• RC 11.19 (Rev. CoP16) on Identification Manual, inter alia, directs Secretariat to report on related efforts at each CoP.

• Decisions 17.166 to 17.169 direct Parties, Secretariat and PC to, inter alia, prioritize taxa for the adoption of new or updated standard nomenclature references, and determine existing reference samples or collec-tions for CITES-listed tree species.

• Decisions 16.136 (Rev. CoP17) to 16.138 (Rev. CoP17), inter alia, direct:

Secretariat to organize a study on molecular, DNA-based and other forensic methods that could assist in identifying the species and populations of Acipenseriformes specimens in trade; and

AC and SC to review report and make recommendations.

• Secretariat side-event12 at PC24 reported that:

Hundreds of medicinal plant species are included in the CITES Appendices;

Trade in these species is economically substantial and trade volumes and values are increasing; and

Ensuring legal, sustainable and traceable trade in wild-sourced medicinal plants has proven to be challenging.

• Decisions 17.173, 17.174 and 17.85, inter alia, direct Secretariat and SC to consider simplified procedures to issue permits, including mechanisms to facilitate efficient international movement of samples for forensic or enforcement purposes.


• Provides a draft Decision directing Secretariat to issue a Notification every five years requesting that Parties update their register of scientific institutions entitled to the exemption provided by Article VII para. 6 of the Convention.

• Reports that SC found Secretariat’s recommendations to be premature; invites CoP to adopt draft Decisions directing:

AC/PC to update and review Secretariat’s analysis, and SC to review analysis in light of AC/PC review;

AC/PC to make recommendations to SC; and

SC to make appropriate recommendations, including amendments to existing Resolutions or development of a new Resolution or Decisions, to address issues and challenges for implementing CITES rules for captive-bred and ranched specimens.

• Provides draft amendments to RC 17.7 that, inter alia, recommend that: when AC identifies issues better dealt with within the Review of Significant Trade it can introduce the combination of species and country of concern in stage 2 of that review; and AC not select species-country combinations where SC has already entered a dialogue with the country over use of source codes C, D, F or R under another compliance process.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) directing AC and SC to make recommendations to improve the RC.

• Provides draft Decisions that, inter alia direct Secretariat to prepare guidance materials for Parties on aspects of artificial propagation including the terms ‘under controlled conditions’, ‘cultivated parental stock’ and the new source code of such terms as may be adopted at CoP18; and report to CoP.

ContinuedContinued

SUPPORT

• The draft Decisions provide a means to resolve confusion regarding implementation of rules relating to captive-bred and ranched specimens.

• SSN urges CoP18 to delete the part of draft Decision 18.BB calling for SC to review “underlying CITES policy assumptions that may have contributed to the uneven application of Article VII, paragraphs 4 and 5”; this would add considerably to the SC workload without clarifying the applicable rules.

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• Relevant Resolutions include RC 11.15 (Rev. CoP12) on Non-commercial loan, donation or exchange of museum and herbarium specimens and RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Permits and certificates.

• Source codes refer to the source of traded speci-mens (e.g. “taken from the wild” is source code W); RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Permits and certificates, establishes 10 source codes.

• Decision 17.101 directs Secretariat to review ambi-guities and inconsistencies in application of rules included in CITES Resolutions as they relate to use of source codes R, F, D, A and C.

• Decision 17.106 directs SC to review Secretariat’s anal-ysis; analysis was presented at SC70 (SC70 Doc. 31.1).

• Decisions 17.103, 17.105 and 17.107 direct Secretariat, AC and SC to make recommendations regarding the first iteration of RC 17.7.

• Decisions 16.156 (Rev. CoP17) and 17.175 to 17.177 inter alia, direct PC to review current production systems for artificial propagation for both tree and non-tree species.

57. Implementation of the Convention Relating to Captive-Bred and Ranched Specimens

CoP18 Doc. 57

Standing Committee

58. Implementation of Resolution Conf. 17.7 on Review of trade in animal specimens reported as produced in captivity

CoP18 Doc. 58

Standing Committee

59. Definition of the term ‘artificially propagated’

59.1 Guidance on the term 'artificially propagated'

CoP18 Doc. 59.1

Plants Committee

57w w w . s s n . o r g


• Provides amendments to RC 11.11 (Rev. CoP17) on Regulation of trade in plants (Annex 1) that, inter alia, include a definition of “plant obtained through assisted production”.

• Provides amendments to RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Permits and certificates to include code “Y” for plants obtained through assisted production.

• Provides draft Decisions that, inter alia, direct PC to review the implementation of paragraph 4 of RC 11.11 (Rev. CoP17) and the trade in specimens of artificially propagated Appendix-I species; and SC to consider recommendations to PC and CoP19.

• Provides update on activities taken under related Decisions, which are proposed for deletion.

• Proposes that matters relating to illegal trade in cheetah be addressed by the CITES Big Cats Task Force (BCTF) proposed under CoP18 Doc. 76.1 on African lion.13

• Recommends adoption of a draft Decision directing Secretariat to make the final version of the kit available.

• Provides a draft Decision that directs SC to consider challenges to CITES implementation regarding appli-cation of “CITES guidelines for a universal labeling system for the trade in and identification of caviar” and make recommendations to CoP19.

• In general, SSN is concerned that increasing the number of source codes may create laundering opportunities and hamper enforcement.


• Decision 17.127 should be retained because:

Secretariat has not reported on progress in halting illegal cheetah trade; and

SC66 Doc. 32.5 enforcement recommendations have not been significantly realized (SC70 Inf. 44).14

• SSN is concerned that cheetah trafficking will not get the urgent attention required as one of many species consid-ered by the BCTF.

• SSN urges CoP18 to support the call for a regional meeting for Eastern Africa and the Middle East on cheetah trafficking (CoP18 Doc. 60, para. 11).

SUPPORT

59.2 Source codes for plant specimens in trade

CoP18 Doc. 59.2

Standing Committee in collaboration with Plants Committee Chair

60. Illegal trade in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

CoP18 Doc. 60

Secretariat

61. Sturgeons and paddlefish (Acipenseriformes spp.)

CoP18 Doc. 61

Secretariat in consultation with Standing Committee Chair and Chair of the Intersessional Working Group on Country of Origin of Caviar



Secretariat to report progress on recommendations in SC66 Doc. 32.5 paras. 17-18 and progress in halting illegal cheetah trade (Decision 17.127);

Secretariat to prepare a CITES cheetah trade resource kit and report to SC; and

SC to provide recommendations to Secretariat to finalize and disseminate the kit.

• Uncertainties about the definition of the term ‘country of origin of caviar’ exist due to separation of production stages of fertilized eggs, fingerlings and sturgeons of dif-ferent age classes for international trade and subsequent caviar production in countries that may differ from the country in which the sturgeons were bred in captivity.15


SUPPORT

• Habitat destruction and disease are primary threats to amphibians; harvesting is a serious secondary threat.

• International trade of amphibians for use as pets, bait, medicinal products and food (e.g. frog legs) contributes to overexploitation and promotes transmission of chytrid fungus across borders.19

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends that CoP18 support extending Decisions 17.192 and 17.193.

SUPPORT


Secretariat to provide a report on trade in amphibian species and conduct workshops identifying amphibian species threatened by international trade and evaluate their possible listing in the Appendices, and provide guidance for making NDFs and setting quotas for these species;

SC to review the report and make recommendations to CoP19; and

AC to review the making of NDFs for amphibians in trade.



Encourage Parties to report on measures taken for A. anguilla and unlisted Anguilla spp.;

AC to consider reports and make recommendations to Parties and CoP18; and

SC to consider information on illegal trade in A. anguilla, review AC recommendations and make their own recommendations.

• Reports that the related study will be available as a CoP18 Inf. document.

• Provides extension of Decisions 17.192 and 17.193 directing AC and SC to review study and make recommendations.

• Provides report on 2nd Regional Workshop on the Management of Wild and Planted Agarwood Taxa (June 2018, Indonesia) (Annex 1).

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 2) that, inter alia, direct PC to monitor implementation of RC 16.10 and Secretariat to commission a study to assess any potential conservation impacts to the long-term sur-vival of agarwood-producing species.

• An estimated 41% of 6,424 amphibian species assessed by IUCN are globally threatened; 435 spe-cies face rapid decline, with 50 declining due to heavy harvesting.16

• Chytridiomycosis is an overwhelming threat to global amphibian biodiversity and contributes to population declines and extinctions worldwide.17 A 2019 study18 states that the disease has affected 501 amphibian species (6.5% of the global total), of which 90 are presumed extinct and 124 are in serious decline.

• Decisions 17.186 to 17.189 direct Secretariat, range and trading States, AC and SC to, inter alia, consider reports on European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and non-CITES listed Anguilla species and provide recom-mendations to CoP18.

• Decisions 17.190 to 17.193 direct Secretariat, AC and SC to, inter alia, analyze results of a precious coral survey and an FAO study on listed and non-listed pre-cious coral species; AC to make recommendations to SC; and SC to make recommendations to CoP.

• Decision 16.157 (Rev. CoP17) directs PC to monitor the implementation of RC 16.10 to assess any poten-tial conservation impacts to the long-term survival of agarwood-producing species.

62. Draft decisions on the conservation of amphibians (Amphibia)

CoP18 Doc. 62

Costa Rica

63. Eels (Anguilla spp.)

CoP18 Doc. 63

Standing and Animals Committees in collaboration with Secretariat

64. Precious corals (Order Antipatharia and family Coralliidae)

CoP18 Doc. 64

Standing Committee

65. Implementation of Resolution Conf. 16.10 on Implementation of the Convention for agarwood-producing taxa [Aquilaria spp. and Gyrinops spp.]

CoP18 Doc. 65

Standing Committee

59w w w . s s n . o r g


SUPPORT

• Resin and resin-derived essential oils and extracts from these species are widely traded internationally.

• There is growing concern that unregulated international trade of frankincense might threaten the survival of these species.

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends that CoP18 support adoption of this Decision and that it be amended to require reporting to SC74.

• SSN recommends that CoP18 note this document and support AC’s efforts to address threats to CITES-listed sharks and rays.

• SSN recommends that CoP18 note substantive efforts by the Secretariat and National CITES Authorities to increase capacity for identification, data collection, regulation (including NDFs) and enforcement.

• SSN encourages CoP18 to continue to report to Secretariat on progress made including new tools, NDFs, and trade in listed species; the CITES Shark and Ray portal is a conve-nient way to share and find updated information.

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends adoption of draft Decisions in Annex 1 and proposed amendments to RC 12.6 (Rev. CoP17) in Annex 2.

• The proposed amendments to RC 12.6 (Rev. CoP17) direct AC to “periodically” examine new information on implementation without specifying what “periodically” means; SSN recom-mends that CoP18 clarify that this means at each AC meeting.

• Provides draft Decisions directing Secretariat to compile information on Boswellia spp. and provide information to PC; and PC to make recommendations including whether any of the species meet the criteria for listing under CITES.

• Provides details on these species (Annex 1) and proposed minor revisions to the Decisions from the Secretariat (Annex 2).

• Provides an update on implementation of related Decisions.

• Provides draft Decision directing Secretariat to invite FAO and IUCN Groupers and Wrasses Specialist Group to assist it in supporting exporting and importing coun-tries of C. undulatus to address CITES implementation challenges.

• Provides an update on shark and ray related activities and implementation of Decision 17.211, including sig-nificant progress made in implementing shark and ray listings.

• Provides recommendations of AC29 and AC30 (Annexes 1 and 2).

• Invites CoP to note document.



Secretariat to: provide information to AC on shark tradeincluding information from Parties on related NDFs, legal acquisition findings and stockpiles of shark fins; develop guidance on NDFs, legal acquisition findings and control of stockpiles of these species; investigate the apparent mismatch

• Boswellia spp. are the source of the aromatic resin known as frankincense; genus includes about 18 tree species native to the arid tropical regions of Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.

• Of the 13 species that have been globally assessed by IUCN, nine have a threat status of Vulnerable or higher.

• Decisions 15.87 (Rev. CoP17), 16.140 (Rev. CoP17), 17.201 and 17.202, inter alia, direct:

SC to develop recommendations for improving regulation of international trade in humphead wrasse and report to CoP18; and

Secretariat to collaborate with FAO on project to support Indonesia in achieving sustainable management of, and trade in, humphead wrasse.

• RC 12.6 (Rev. CoP17) on Conservation and manage-ment of sharks, inter alia, directs AC to examine new information on trade and other relevant data and infor-mation and report to CoPs.

• Decisions 17.209 to17.216 direct Parties, Secretariat and SC to take certain actions regarding the trade and conservation of sharks including directing Secretariat to request new information on shark conservation and management from Parties and provide trade informa-tion on these species to AC.

• See Background under 68.1.

66. Trade in Boswellia spp. (Burseraceae)

CoP18 Doc. 66

Sri Lanka and USA

67. Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)

CoP18 Doc. 67

Standing Committee

68. Sharks and rays (Elasmobranchii spp.)

68.1 Report of the Animals Committee

CoP18 Doc. 68.1


CoP18 Doc. 68.2


Continued Continued


• SSN appreciates the draft Decision on stockpiles but remains concerned about the volume of illegal shark fins currently in international trade.

• Peru, a member of the Shark Intersessional Working Group, proposed draft amendments to RC 12.6 (Rev. CoP17) urging Parties to document pre-Convention stock-piles and improve monitoring of fins in transit; these are not included in the proposed amendments in Doc. 68.2. SSN urges CoP18 to further amend RC 12.6 (Rev. CoP17) to address Peru’s concerns.


Asian Elephants: There is evidence of an ongoing, significant trade in raw and powdered skin, illegal trade of live wild elephants, and increased poaching in certain countries.20 This evidence and lack of compliance with the reporting requirement, indicates failure to implement key provisions in CoP17 Decisions. SSN urges adoption of Decisions 18.BB and 18.CC, with immediate and effective implementation and timely reporting to the Secretariat.

NIAP’s: SSN recommends the following amendments to the NIAP Guidelines (Annex 3 of RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17)):

• Under Step 4 on monitoring of implementation of NIAPs, focus should be on key outcomes and impacts such as a reduction in poaching and ivory trafficking;

• Under Step 5 on exit from the NIAP process, any Party considered for exit should be asked to implement the ICCWC Indicator Framework for Wildlife and Forest Crime and share the results with the Secretariat;

between the trade in sharks recorded in the CITES Trade Database and reported catches of listed species; and conduct a study analysing the trade in non-fin shark products of CITES-listed species; and

AC and SC to review these results and prepare a joint report for CoP19.

• Provides amendments to RC 12.6 (Rev. CoP17) that, inter alia:

Encourage Parties to improve data collection and reporting for shark species and share information on stricter domestic measures;

Direct AC to make species-specific recommendations at CoPs if necessary on improving the conservation status of sharks; and

Direct SC to provide guidance on regulatory matters in connection to the implementation of shark listings.

• Provides update on issues addressed under RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) including stockpiles, trade in Asian ele-phants, National Ivory Action Plans (NIAP), and SC69 and SC70 recommendations regarding ETIS methodology.

• Provides draft Decisions on elephants (Annex 1) that, inter alia:

Direct SC to review guidance for the management of ivory stockpiles (to be presented at SC71);

Widen the remit of Decisions 17.217 and 17.218 to include all Asian elephant specimens (Decisions 18.BB and 18.CC); and Direct SC to review Secretariat’s proposal regarding the financial and operational sustainability of the MIKE and ETIS programmes.

• Provides Decisions 17.70 to 17.82 on NIAP (Annex 2).

• Provides proposed amendments to RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 3) relating to Guidelines to the National Ivory Action Plans Process that, inter alia, provide ele-ments that should be considered by the Secretariat when evaluating NIAPs and to include “provisions …

• RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17), inter alia, directs SC to review actions taken by Parties to implement provisions of this Resolution, particularly, but not limited to, provi-sions concerning trade in elephant specimens, and to report to each CoP.

69. Elephants (Elephantidae spp.)

69.1 Implementation of Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) on Trade in elephant specimens

CoP18 Doc. 69.1

Secretariat at request of Standing Committee

Continued Continued

Continued Continued

61w w w . s s n . o r g


for TAG members to access detailed data for review purposes in fulfillment of their responsibilities”.

• Provides Terms of Reference for review of the ETIS programme adopted by SC70 (Annex 4).

• Provides tentative budget and source of funding for implementation of these actions (Annex 5).

• Invites CoP to adopt the draft Decisions and proposed amendments to RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17).

• Provides report on information relating to objectives of the MIKE mandate.

• Does not assess data from 2018, and notes concerns about lack of reporting by certain MIKE sites.

• Reports that (for reporting African and Asian MIKE sites):

A steady increase in levels of illegal killing of elephants in Africa starting in 2006, peaking in 2011, and thereafter following a slight but steady downward trend; however report states these trends should be interpreted with caution, considering the reported continental decline in elephant numbers over the same period

Increase in PIKE in Southern Africa including Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique; with PIKE levels remaining high in Central and West Africa; and

Steady increase in average levels of illegal killing of Asian elephants between 2003 and 2006, followed by slight decreasing trend up to 2018.

• The report:

Added adjustments and comments relating to data collection and PIKE, and potential biases that may overestimate poaching rates. The Secretariat has launched consultancies to review the MIKE analytical methodology and to search for alternatives to PIKE.

Urges caution in using the formerly accepted PIKE “sustainability threshold” of 0.5 and has removed this threshold line from the data figures that were in the SC70 document.

• Requests CoP to note the document.

• Under Step 5(b)(ii), when good progress has been made by a Party which continues to be significantly implicated in poaching or ivory trafficking, reporting obligations should focus only on key action(s) yet to be achieved; and

• Under Step 5(c), additional factors should be considered including: impacts of NIAP implementation demonstrated by performance indicators and targets identified in Step 2, paragraph a) 3. Vi).


• SSN notes that MIKE data may not be representative of actual poaching levels, given that only 17,780 carcass records have been assembled (2003 –2017) for MIKE sites in Africa and 3,377 in Asia; moreover sites are mostly based in non-functional protected areas, particularly in Asia resulting in under reporting of poaching levels.

• While report states it is “perhaps impossible” to assess the effects of the CITES authorised ivory sales, there is overwhelming evidence that sales did exacerbate poaching and ivory trafficking.21 The ETIS Report (Doc. 69.3) concludes that the closure of China’s domestic legal ivory market - which was established in response to the 2008 CITES ivory one-off sale - could have diminished the role of China in global illegal ivory trade.

69.2 Report on Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE)

CoP18 Doc. 69.2

Secretariat

• RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) establishes the CITES MIKE programme.

• MIKE data is analyzed using PIKE (Proportion of Illegally Killed Elephants), a measure of the proportion of ele-phant mortality resulting from illegal killing, measured on a country-by-country basis.

Continued Continued


• SSN recommends that CoP18:

Request that the 10 Parties identified as countries of concern in the ETIS Report but which are not currently participating in the NIAP process (i.e., China, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Singapore, South Africa, UAE, Zimbabwe, Turkey and Burundi) develop NIAPs or at minimum, report on progress made in addressing poaching and /or ivory trade to SC73;

Recognise Japan as a Category A country and request Japan to develop a NIAP committing to closure of its domestic ivory market; and

Direct the Secretariat to issue a Notification listing the countries which have failed to conduct forensic analysis on large-scale seizures in accordance with RC 10.10 and request that such Parties submit the results of such analysis by SC73; and direct SC73 to adopt appropriate measures for lack of compliance.

• RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) establishes ETIS that provides data on illegal ivory trade.

• Provides the ETIS and the Illicit Trade in Ivory report (Annex 1) which:

Does not assess data from 2018, and is based on incomplete information for 2017;

Notes a gradual decline in ivory seizures from peaks in 2012 and 2013;

Reports that, between 2008 and 2017, nearly 400 tonnes of ivory (sourced from 58,672 elephants) have been seized;

Emphasizes the need to maintain NIAPs, closure of domestic ivory markets and to continue to address demand and enforcement in order to prevent a return to high levels of ivory trade; and

Notes that apparent decline in illegal ivory trade volume is occurring at same time as an overall decline in Africa-wide elephant numbers.

• Provides comments on report received from Parties (Annex 2) and includes TRAFFIC’s responses to these comments (Annex 3).

• Identifies the following countries as countries of concern:

Category A: Malaysia, Mozambique, Nigeria and Vietnam;

Category B: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, China and Hong Kong SAR;

Category C: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, South Africa, Cameroon, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Angola, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ethiopia, Cambodia, Singapore, Laos, Turkey and Burundi; and

Vietnam identified as a major country of concern where the situation “has worsened considerably” with the country now becoming the leading destination for illicit ivory, surpassing China, including Hong Kong SAR.

• Reports that only 21 out of 107 large-scale ivory sei-zures (19.6%) have been assessed forensically.

• Requests CoP to note the document.

69.3 Report on the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS)

CoP18 Doc. 69.3 Rev.1

Secretariat

63w w w . s s n . o r g


SUPPORT

• Given the proliferation of ivory stockpiles, challenges with their management, lack of comprehensive information on number and quantity of worldwide stockpiles, reports of theft, and the risk of ivory from stockpiles leaking into illegal trade, finalization of official CITES guidance and improved reporting are urgently required.

SUPPORT

• All domestic ivory markets – not just those “contributing to poaching or illegal trade” - create opportunities to launder illegal ivory. Studies reveal that where outlets offer legal and illegal ivory side-by-side, revenue and profits become intermingled and difficult to separate.22

• The proposed amendments are necessary because the current provision in RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) is being used to justify keeping some legal markets open. Japan claims the recommendation does not apply to its market because it does not contain illegal ivory 23, even though TRAFFIC cites “considerable evidence” that its market is contributing to illegal trade.24 The EU has allowed an open internal market and exports of worked ivory to continue since CoP17, despite numerous studies linking its market with illegal trade.25

SUPPORT

69.4 Ivory stockpiles: proposed revision of Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) on Trade in elephant specimens

CoP18 Doc. 69.4

Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, the Sudan and Syrian Arab Republic

69.5 Implementing aspects of Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) on the closure of domestic ivory markets

CoP18 Doc. 69.5

Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria and the Syrian Arab Republic

70. Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and other marine turtles (Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae)

CoP18 Doc. 70

Secretariat

• RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17), inter alia, urges Parties to maintain an inventory of stockpiles of ivory and inform the Secretariat of stockpile quantities each year.

• Decision 17.171 directs Secretariat to, inter alia, develop practical guidance for management of ivory stockpiles.

• RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17), inter alia, recommends that all Parties with legal domestic ivory markets contributing to poaching or illegal trade close their domestic mar-kets for commercial ivory trade as a matter of urgency.

• Decisions 17.222 and 17.223, inter alia, direct:

· Secretariat to undertake a study on the legal and illegal international trade in marine turtles, and report to SC and CoP; and

· SC to formulate its own recommendations.

• Provides overview of the major seizures in trafficked ivory in the past few years.

• Recommends that guidance for the management of ivory stockpiles be finalized, and the adoption of Decisions that, inter alia, direct:

Secretariat identify to SC those Parties that have not provided information on ivory stockpiles within their territory; and

SC to consider Secretariat’s report and determine if further actions are necessary.

• Highlights the role played by legal markets (e.g. Japan and the EU) in perpetuating ivory trafficking. Evidence from TRAFFIC suggests that, despite amendments to tighten trade controls, Japan’s market contributes to poaching and illegal trade.

• Evidence shows that illegal ivory is being laundered through EU markets including by exploiting a loophole allowing uncontrolled sale of “antique” ivory (pre 1947).

• Provides amendments to RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) that include, inter alia, that all Parties close domestic mar-kets for commercial ivory trade; Secretariat to report to SC on all Parties that have not closed such markets.

• Provides draft Decisions that, inter alia, direct SC to consider report of Secretariat on domestic ivory mar-kets and recommend actions to ensure their closure.


Secretariat to make completed study available to AC and SC;

AC provide recommendations to SC; and

SC to formulate its own recommendations.

• Recommends that SC form an intersessional working group to review study and make recommendations.


SUPPORT

• SSN recommends that Parties support the Proposed revisions to RC 12.5 (Rev. CoP17) and the retention of Decision 14.69.

• SSN recommends amending Draft Decisions 18.DD to direct SC73 and future SC’s to consider time-bound, country-specific measures; and 18.EE to specify that mis-sions should occur, with reports to SC73.

• Fewer than 4000 wild tigers remain; populations in south Asia are stabilizing but still subject to poaching; popu-lations in Southeast Asia continue to decline and face renewed poaching from Vietnamese criminal networks; demand from China continues to finance tiger poaching; markets for ABC parts and derivatives catering primarily to Chinese consumers operate openly, particularly in neighboring range states.

• >8000 captive tigers found in 4 range states (China, Thailand, Lao PDR, Viet Nam)27.

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends including in draft Decisions a minor addition to 18.JJ directing Parties to submit reports for consideration at SC73.

• The draft Decisions in Doc. 71.2 go further than the draft Decisions in Doc. 71.1. SSN considers these necessary to achieve implementation of CoP17 Decisions, Decision 14.69, and RC 12.5 (Rev. CoP17) (para. 1 k) that have suf-fered from lack of progress to date, including 12 years having passed since the adoption of Decision 14.69.

• Recent Global Tiger Forum and Global Tiger Initiative meeting recommended closure of domestic markets and prohibiting breeding of tigers for commercial purposes.29

• Reports, inter alia, that 34% of tiger specimens seized in 2015-2017 were likely from a captive source.


Parties affected by illegal trade in ABCs or with tourist markets contributing to illegal cross border trade, to pursue enforcement efforts;

Secretariat to undertake missions to Parties with facilities of concern and report to SC with recommendations; and

SC to review report and recommendations and determine further measures.

• Provides proposed amendments to RC 12.5 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 2) that, inter alia:

Urges Parties to include non-native ABCs in their legislation;

Addresses disposal of ABCs that die in captivity; and

Recommends that all Parties with a legal domestic market for specimens of ABC species that is contrib-uting to poaching or illegal trade take all measures to close their domestic markets for these products.

Invites Parties to maintain Decision 14.69.

• Provides draft Decisions that, inter alia, direct Parties:

Having facilities of concern to develop a phase-out program, inventory captive populations and monitor to prevent laundering;

To prohibit domestic and international commercial trade in all Asian Big Cat parts and derivatives;

To afford non-native species of big cats with the same protection as native big cat species; and

To share images of seized tiger skins.

• Decisions also:

Provide specific recommendations to Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, India, Lao People’s Democratic

• RC 12.5 (Rev. CoP17), on Conservation of and trade in tigers and other Appendix-I Asian big cat species (ABC),26 inter alia:

Recognizes threats of poaching and illegal international trade, including substitution of parts of Asian big cats for tiger parts in traditional medicine;

Urges Parties and range and non-range States to address illegal trade; and

Instructs Secretariat to report to SC and CoP on measures to comply with the Resolution and related Decisions.

• Decision 17.227 directed SC to consider recommen-dations following review of trade (Decision 17.228). The review was completed for SC70, but deliberation on specific measures deferred. Missions (Decision 17.229) to address legal and illegal trade from cap-tive ABC facilities have not occurred.

• Decision14.69 directs “Parties with intensive, com-mercial tiger breeding operations to implement mea-sures to restrict the captive population to the number supportive of conserving wild tigers; “tigers should not be bred for trade in their parts and derivatives”.

• See Background under Doc. 71.1.

• In Doc. 71.2, India proposes additional draft Decisions, taking into account the contents of SC70 Doc. 51 and Annexes, and extremely concerned about the delay in the full implementation of Decision 17.227 (despite the substantive review in SC70 Doc. 51 Annex 4), Decision 17.229 (despite funding avail-able for missions), Decision 14.69, and RC 12.5 (Rev. CoP17) (para. 1 k).28 This includes some time-bound, country-specific measures.

71. Asian big cats (Felidae spp.)


CoP18 Doc. 71.1

71.2 Draft Decisions on Asian Big Cats

India

Continued

65w w w . s s n . o r g


Republic, Myanmar, Nepal and Viet Nam and Parties implicated in illegal ABC trade; and

Recommend that Secretariat prepare a report on these Decisions and formulate recommendations for review by SC.

• Summarizes history of inclusion of seahorses in Appendix II, explores progress in implementation and identifies issues needing attention.


Secretariat to invite Parties to inform Secretariat of national quotas for seahorses, organize an expert workshop to explore CITES implementation and enforcement of Appendix II for seahorses, and report to AC and SC; and

AC and SC to develop recommendations for implementation and enforcement.


Recognize that apes are well represented in zoo collections and that removal from the wild poses a threat to their conservation; trade in wild sourced apes is not encouraged outside movement of confiscated animals into long-term care facilities;

Urge Parties to be particularly vigilant and strictly adhere to the provisions of CITES regarding any trade in wild-caught or allegedly captive-bred live specimens of great apes;

Delete requirement for reporting to each SC meeting; and

Direct Secretariat (rather than SC) to regularly review implementation of this RC, and bring any concerns regarding trade in these species to the attention of AC and SC.

SUPPORT

• Total weight of seahorses in documented trade decreased significantly after CITES listing;30 however, significant por-tion of trade remains uncontrolled.

• A 2018 study31 states that Hong Kong SAR traders reported obtaining 95% of dried seahorses from coun-tries that ban seahorse export (e.g. Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Malaysia), indicating widespread lack of enforcement.

SUPPORT IN PART/OPPOSE IN PART

• SSN urges CoP18 to support some of proposed amend-ments but oppose deletion of requirements for reporting to each SC meeting and transfer of responsibility for reviewing implementation of the RC from SC to Secretariat.

Continued

72. Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) on CITES – a roadmap to success

CoP18 Doc. 72

Maldives, Monaco, Sri Lanka and USA

73. Great apes (Hominidae spp.)

CoP18 Doc. 73

Standing Committee in consultation with Secretariat

• Seahorses were listed in CITES Appendix II at CoP12 in 2002.

• RC 13.4 (Rev. CoP16) on Conservation of and trade in great apes, inter alia, directs Parties to promote pro-tection of great apes and Secretariat to report to each SC meeting on implementation of the RC.

• SC70 invited Secretariat to review RC 13.4 (Rev. CoP16) and propose amendments, as appropriate.


SUPPORT


• SSN urges CoP18 to retain text in RC 17.10, para. 7, amended to read “the making of non-detriment findings for non-commercial trade in the species.”

• SSN urges CoP18 to adopt Decisions with targeted recom-mendations, proportional to the serious scale of the problem, requesting:

China to expeditiously close its domestic legal market for pangolin specimens;

China, Thailand, Nigeria, Viet Nam and other Parties implicated in high volumes of illegal pangolin trade, to strengthen enforcement efforts to tackle trans-national pangolin trafficking;

These Parties to report to Secretariat on progress made for consideration at SC73; and

Range and consumer States to report to SC on laws and regulations governing domestic markets for pangolin specimens.

• SSN urges CoP18 to include SC69 recommendations on improving compliance and enforcement in RC 17.10, including encouraging Parties to assist enforcement offi-cers at ports to better target illegal trade in pangolins; and Secretariat to encourage ICCWC partner agencies to target criminal networks involved in illegal pangolin trade.

• Proposes draft Decisions that, inter alia:

Direct Secretariat to compile available data and information on management, use and trade for CITES-listed rosewood timber species and, as a second priority, species not included in the CITES Appendices; organize related workshops; provide study to PC; make recommendations to SC and CoP19; and

Direct SC to make recommendations.

• Highlights role of mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Thailand and Nigeria in the industrial scale trafficking of pangolins.

• Provides an update on implementation of the related Decisions.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) (including addi-tions from Secretariat) that, inter alia, direct:

Range States to develop conservation and management programs and report to Secretariat;

Secretariat to work with experts to develop conversion parameters for pangolin species (to determine number of animals associated with a quantity of scales) and report to SC;

AC to make recommendations to SC or Secretariat on related issues; and

SC to make recommendations.

• Provides an amendment to RC 17.10 on Conservation of and trade in pangolins, para. 7, deleting text refer-ring to NDFs as all species now are listed in Appendix I.

74. Rosewood timber species [Leguminosae (Fabaceae)]

CoP18 Doc. 74

Plants Committee

75. Pangolins (Manis spp.)

CoP18 Doc. 75

Secretariat with draft Decisions from Standing Committee

76. African lion (Panthera leo)

• Decision 17.234 directs PC to review document CoP17 Doc. 62 (Rev. 1) on International Trade in Rosewood Timber Species and formulate recommendations to CoP18.

• Decisions17.239 and 17.240, inter alia, direct Secretariat to report to SC on pangolin conservation and trade issues; and to formulate recommendations for SC and draft Decisions for SC and CoP18.

• Related report32 was provided to SC69 which made rec-ommendations to Parties and Secretariat on improving compliance and enforcement.33

• Trafficking in pangolins remains a serious threat with large seizures ongoing: A record seizure in Singapore of nearly 13 tonnes of scales (corresponding to 17,000 pangolins) in April 2019 originated from Nigeria and was destined for Viet Nam;34 in January 2019, a shipment from Nigeria to Viet Nam with scales from 13,000 pangolins was seized in Hong Kong; and from Oct. 2018 to Jan. 2019, seizures in Viet Nam totalled almost ten tonnes.35

67w w w . s s n . o r g


• Reports on actions taken under the Decisions including:

Secretariat was unable to implement all of the activities.

CITES and CMS contracted IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group to develop a document on Guidelines for the Conservation of Lions in Africa (GCLA) for the meeting of the African Carnivore Initiative (ACI1) in November 2018, but this was not reviewed by AC or SC;

SC intersessional working group on African lions recom-mended a Resolution on African lion (SC70 Doc. 54.2);

• TRAFFIC study on The Legal and Illegal Trade in African Lions (SC70 Doc. 54.1) was reviewed by AC and the SC’s intersessional working group.

• Notes best practices and NDF guidance from a Spanish workshop presented by the EU.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia,

Direct the Secretariat to: -- Undertake a study of lion population trends and conservation and management practices; --Convene a CITES Big Cats Task Force; --Conduct further research and analysis on the legal and illegal trade in lions and other big cats; and --Assess whether trade in lion specimens reported under purpose code “H” follows the guidance in RC 12.3 (Rev. CoP17) on Permits and certificates, para. 3 h).

Direct AC and SC to develop recommendations for CoP19.

• Provides a draft Resolution on Conservation of and trade in African lions ( P. leo) (Annex 1) that, inter alia:

Invites Parties to enhance enforcement and cooperation, and develop demand reduction programmes where appropriate;

Provides recommendations regarding captive-breeding facilities for lions including that Parties with facilities consider restricting captive breeding of lions to those beneficial to lion conservation efforts;

Recommends a highly precautionary approach to international trade in lion products from all sources;

SUPPORT

• SSN urges Parties to adopt a highly precautionary approach to trade in lion products from all sources.

• Given declining status of lions and the potential threat to vulnerable populations posed by trade, SSN recommends the following amendments to the draft Decisions:

Decision 18AA(c): note the need for a “2nd international expert workshop” (Doc. 18.45), to build on advice available to Parties on establishing NDFs for lions;

Decision 18AA(e): direct that the GCLA be shared with AC for consideration at AC31;

Decisions 18AA(f) and 18CC(f): include a reporting requirement to AC31, AC32, SC73 and SC74;

Decision 18BB(a): include a timeline and mandate for the establishment of the CITES Big Cats Task Force;

Decision 18.BB b) iii): include a mandate for the task force to develop and recommend demand reduction strategies for lions; and

Decision 18.CC.d): direct that forensic identification tools be developed for lion and other big cat parts and products, including finished products which may contain big cat parts.

SUPPORT

• The draft Resolution compliments the draft Decisions in CoP18 Doc. 76.1 and facilitates cooperation between Parties on combating illegally traded specimens, ensures sustainable lion trophy quotas, and reduces demand for African lion products.

• The African Lion Working Group has stated that the captive-bred lion industry and associated activities are businesses that “do not provide any demonstrated posi-tive benefit to wild lion conservation efforts and therefore cannot be claimed to be conservation.”36

• Decisions 17.241-17.245 on African lions (Panthera leo) directs, inter alia:

Secretariat, in collaboration with range States, CMS and IUCN, to: implement conservation plans; undertake population inventories; support databases; develop cooperation and management strategies; undertake studies on legal and illegal trade; undertake a comparative study of conservation and management practices; support capacity-building in conservation and management, including in the making of non-detriment findings; support public awareness raising and education in range States; create a dedicated portal on the CITES website; promote fundraising; and report to AC and SC.

AC to consider Secretariat’s report and submit recommendations to SC.

SC to review report and AC recommendations; consider developing a Resolution on conservation of African lion; establish and provide Terms of Reference for a CITES Task Force on African lions; and consider establishing a trust fund to support the Task Force and African lion conservation.

• Decision 17.243(b) directs SC to recommend further actions including the possible need for a Resolution on the conservation of African lion.

• SC69 established an intersessional working group (chaired by Niger) to: “…consider further actions to be taken, including the possible development of addi-tional specific guidance on trade in and conservation of African lions… through a dedicated Resolution.”

• TRAFFIC report (SC70 Doc 54.1), acknowledged poaching as an emerging threat, and increasing demand in Asia that may impact lion and other big


CoP18 Doc. 76.1

Secretariat in consultation with Animals and Standing Committees Chairs

76.2 Conservation of and trade in African lions

CoP18 Doc. 76.2

Niger and Togo

ContinuedContinued


SUPPORT

SUPPORT

NOTE WITH AMENDMENT

• SSN urges CoP18 to note this document but to reject Secretariat’s recommendation to delete its CoP reporting requirement from RC 11.8 (Rev. CoP17).

Recommends Parties work to eliminate use of lion (and tiger and leopard) bone in traditional medicines and products; and

Requests Secretariat to report on the status of African lions, and the extent and nature of trade in African lion specimens, for consideration at each regular meeting of SC.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1), that, inter alia, direct:

Secretariat to undertake a study on illegal trade in jaguars and use of jaguar specimens, seek information on this issue from Parties, and report to AC and SC;

AC to review study and make recommendations to SC; and

SC to formulate recommendations.

• Provides a draft Resolution on Conservation and con-trol of trade in jaguars (Panthera onca) that, inter alia:

Urges Parties to adopt legislation and enforcement efforts aimed at eliminating poaching of jaguars and trade in parts and derivatives, prohibit sale and acquisition of live specimens, parts and derivatives, and increase enforcement and public education; and

Directs Secretariat to commission a study on illegal trade in jaguars, including trafficking routes and markets; develop regional and subregional initiatives to reduce and ultimately eliminate illegal trade in jaguars; and report to SC.

• Reports on related activities undertaken, including a July 2016 workshop on illegal trade in Tibetan antelope.

• Requests CoP to note this document.

• Secretariat recommends that RC 11.8 (Rev. CoP17) be amended to delete requirement for Secretariat to report to each CoP.

cat populations; documented concerns with captive breeding facilities, e.g. laundering tiger bones from both wild and captive-bred sources as captive lion bones, and selling captive lion products as tiger.

• SC70 Doc. 54.2 contains report of the intersessional working group including, inter alia, a recommendation for the development of a dedicated Resolution on lions for CoP18, and suggestions of measures to include in such a Resolution.

• P. onca, listed in Appendix I, is classified as Near Threatened (IUCN 2016) but could qualify as Vulnerable in near future.37

• Jaguar trafficking may be increasing in Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama, where there is concern that a structured national and international illegal trade may be emerging, with anecdotal though largely unconfirmed claims of potential links to Asian markets.

• See Background for CoP18 Doc. 77.1.

• RC 11.8 (Rev. CoP17) on Conservation of and control of trade in the Tibetan antelope, inter alia, directs SC to report on enforcement measures taken by Parties in eliminating illicit trade in Tibetan antelope prod-ucts and report to each CoP.

77. Jaguar (Panthera onca)

77.1 Jaguar trade

CoP18 Doc. 77.1

Costa Rica and Mexico

77.2 Illegal trade in jaguar

CoP18 Doc. 77.2

Peru

78. Illegal trade in Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii)

CoP18 Doc. 78

Standing Committee

ContinuedContinued

69w w w . s s n . o r g



AC to gather information on songbird trade, management and enforcement; prepare a report, including recommendations, to SC and/or CoP19; and provide guidance on making NDFs for CITES-listed passerines; and

SC to make its own recommendations.

• Lists 28 priority species (Annex 2) identified at First Asian Songbird Trade Crisis Summit.

• Secretariat suggests focusing on these 28 species; oth-erwise, work would be outside of scope of Convention.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia, direct PC to review recommendations from International Workshop on Prunus africana and provide recommen-dations to SC and CoP19.

• Secretariat recommends, inter alia, that Decisions be amended to direct SC to make its own recommenda-tions to Parties and PC.

• Seeks to continue related Decisions with a minor amendment.

• Secretariat recommends that the Decision related to conservation and management of the species be amended, considering that species is listed in Appendix I; and that the Decision 17.258 be maintained.

• Reports on implementation of the related Decisions.


Indonesia to consider its measures for sustainable trade in the species and report to AC; and

AC to review progress and make recommendations to CoP19.

• Secretariat suggests minor amendments including reference to AC30 recommendations.38

SUPPORT

• SSN urges CoP18 to maintain the Decisions as drafted so that AC can report on issues related to listed and non-listed songbirds in all regions.

• Regarding Secretariat’s suggestion that the report be lim-ited to listed species, SSN notes that Objective 1.4 of RC 16.3 (Rev. CoP17) on CITES Strategic Vision: 2008-2020 states, “The Appendices correctly reflect the conservation needs of species”; study of unlisted species is necessary in order to achieve this objective; CITES has addressed unlisted species via Decisions, including 17.186 on eels and 17.234 on rosewoods.

SUPPORT

• If Decisions are maintained, SSN recommends that CoP18 adopt Secretariat’s suggested amendments but delete Decision 17.258; more than 50 breeding facilities for this species are now included in Secretariat’s register.

• If Decision 17.258 is maintained, SSN recommends CoP18 adopt the following amendment: “...whether the Party has been included in the Review of Significant Trade or subject to any CITES compliance or enforcement regime concerning the species in the prior 10 years from the effective listing date”.

SUPPORT

• Reports that large numbers of songbirds (order Passeriformes) are taken from the wild for food and the caged bird trade; vast majority of the approxi-mately 6,000 songbird species are not CITES-listed; and only 84 songbird species or subspecies are included in the Appendices.

• Some Asian songbirds are extinct in the wild or nearing extinction due to intensive trapping; IUCN Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group formed in 2018 to address this crisis.

• Decision 17.250 directs Secretariat to organize an international workshop on P. africana and report to PC.

• Decisions 17.253 to 17.257, inter alia, direct range States of P. erithacus to develop National Action Plans for the species.

• Decision 17.258 provides recommendations when approving registration of breeding facilities for the species.

• P. erithacus was listed in Appendix I at CoP17; Democratic Republic of the Congo is the only range State with a reservation to this listing.

• Decisions 12.259 to 17.263, inter alia, direct Indonesia to implement conservation and management mea-sures for the species and report to AC; Secretariat to commission a study to assess the impact of trade on this species; and AC to assess study and Indonesia’s report and make recommendations to CoP18.

79. Songbird trade and conservation management (Passeriformes)

CoP18 Doc. 79

Sri Lanka and USA

80. African cherry (Prunus africana)

CoP18 Doc. 80

Plants Committee

81. African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus)

CoP18 Doc. 81

South Africa

82. Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)

CoP18 Doc. 82

Animals Committee


• Provides an update of directed actions, including information on Parties identified as most affected by rhinoceros poaching and horn trafficking.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia, make specific recommendations to China, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe; rec-ommends that SC provide recommendations to CoP19 based on Secretariat’s summary of Party reports; and directs Secretariat to explore best practices to assist in addressing rhinoceros poaching and horn trafficking.

• Provides a Report from the IUCN Species Survival Commission African and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups and TRAFFIC to the Secretariat pursuant to RC 9.14 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 2);report from China (Annex 3); Status of Rhinos in Zimbabwe (Annex 4); and Decisions 17.133-17.144 (Annex 5).

• Demonstrates that rhino horn trafficking remains alarm-ingly high, with an estimated 4,757 horns from African rhinoceros destined for illegal markets in 2016-2017.

• Provides revisions to RC 9.14 (Rev. CoP17) including, inter alia, that Parties:

Take all measures to close all domestic markets for trade in raw and worked rhino horn;

Inform Secretariat of the status of their domestic markets for rhino products;

Collate information on privately-held stockpiles of rhino horn within their territory; and

Consider destruction of stockpiles of rhino horns as a management option.

SUPPORT with Amendments

• SSN recommends adoption of the draft Decisions with the following changes:

Add Botswana to Parties to which Decision 18.BB is directed;

Add Namibia and South Africa to Parties to which Decision 18.CC is directed; and

Add time-bound reporting requirements to 18.BB (in advance of each SC meeting), 18.CC (by SC73) and 18.FF (by SC73 and SC74).

• SSN recommends adopting additional Decisions:

Directing Parties to incorporate best practices from the IUCN/TRAFFIC report (Annex 2) when implementing RC 9.14 (Rev. CoP17);

Encouraging South Africa and Namibia to investigate identified discrepancies in reporting of exports of hunting trophies and submit report on measures taken to SC73; encouraging China, India, Myanmar and Viet Nam to enhance their enforcement capacity and collaborate on investigations into cross-border rhino horn trade, and submit report on progress to SC73; and

Encouraging Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Thailand to investigate reports of whole, powdered, and worked rhino horn for sale at markets in the Golden Triangle region, take any enforcement action necessary, and submit report to SC73.

SUPPORT

• Domestic legal markets for rhino parts and derivatives undermine Appendix I listings, stimulate demand, provide laundering opportunities, increase the burden on law enforcement, and undermine demand reduction efforts.

• China announced a new policy in 201839 that, if imple-mented, would allow rhino horn use in Traditional Chinese Medicine and trade in “cultural relics”.

• South Africa’s moratorium on domestic horn trade was overturned in 2017; the government has yet to promulgate final regulations on domestic trade.

83. Rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae spp.)

83.1 Report of the Standing Committee and the Secretariat

CoP18 Doc. 83.1


83.2 Revisions to Resolution Conf. 9.14 (Rev. CoP17) on Conservation of and trade in African and Asian rhinoceroses, and associated decisions

CoP18 Doc. 83.2

Kenya

• RC 9.14 (Rev. CoP17) on Conservation and trade in African and Asian rhinoceroses, inter alia, provides recommendations on enforcement and rhino horn stockpiles; and includes recommendations regarding a commissioned rhino trade report before each CoP.

• Decisions 17.133-17.144 direct actions to all Parties, rhino range States, Mozambique and Viet Nam, SC and Secretariat regarding trade in rhinoceroses.

• See Background under Document 83.1.

• Former RC 6.10 on Trade in Rhinoceros Products, which was repealed by RC 9.14 (Rev. CoP17), called for the complete prohibition on internal and interna-tional sale and trade in rhino parts and derivatives.

• RC 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) on Trade in elephant speci-mens urges Parties to close domestic ivory markets as a matter of urgency.

Continued

71w w w . s s n . o r g


• Reports on implementation of the Decisions and notes that the Action Plan for the conservation of the helmeted hornbill was recently finalized.40


Parties to implement RC 17.11 and report to Secretariat on implementation;

Secretariat to assist Parties in implementation of RC 7.11; and

SC to review implementation of Decisions and report to CoP19.



Range States to continue work on enforcement and traceability issues and provide information on efforts to Secretariat;

AC to provide advice on making NDFs;

SC to review traceability and enforcement issues concerning international trade in queen conch, and make recommendations as appropriate; and

Secretariat to continue to assist range States.


Range and trading countries of saiga to implement MTIWP for 2016-2020 and for 2021-2025;

Secretariat to review conservation of and trade in Saiga spp.; consult saiga range States and major trading and consumer States concerning their management of stockpiles of saiga specimens; report recommendations to SC; and

SC to consider Secretariat’s findings and make recommendations.

• Secretariat recommends AC be directed to view Secretariat’s results and make recommendations.

84. Helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil))

CoP18 Doc. 84

Standing Committee

85. Queen conch (Strombus gigas)

CoP18 Doc. 85

Secretariat

86. Saiga antelope (Saiga spp.)

CoP18 Doc. 86

Standing Committee

• There is CITES precedent for addressing domestic trade in especially at-risk species.

• Stockpile destruction addresses funding and security challenges inherent to maintaining stockpiles.

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends that CoP18 adopt the Decisions with the Secretariat’s amendments.

• Listing of Saiga spp. in Appendix I (CoP18 Prop. 2) would complement these measures.

• RC 17.11 on Conservation of and trade in helmeted hornbill and Decisions 17.264 to 17.266, inter alia, direct Secretariat to consult with range States con-cerning their measures to conserve and protect the species, assist Parties to eliminate illegal trade in the species and report to SC on implementation of the Decision; and SC to make recommendations to CoP18.

• Decisions 17.285 to 17.290 are directed to range States, AC, and Secretariat regarding NDFs, and enforcement and traceability issues concerning inter-national trade in queen conch.

• Decisions 17.267 to 17.274 direct, inter alia, range and trading States of saiga to implement the Medium-Term International Work Programme for the Saiga Antelope (2016-2020) [MTIWP (2016-2020)], care-fully manage trade, promote alternative products, address illegal trade and ensure effective stockpile management; Secretariat to report to SC; and SC to make recommendations to CoP18.

Continued


SUPPORT

• All Parties should endorse efforts to conserve species; consumer countries should strengthen law enforcement.

• Bolivia and Peru have adopted national and bi-national measures to recover the species; exports from both coun-tries are prohibited; additional conservation measures needed to complement existing efforts.41

SUPPORT

• SSN notes that draft amendments to RC 11.9 (Rev. CoP13) remove all references to Asia, making the RC relevant to all range and trading countries.


• The draft Decisions fail to reflect the urgent need for action; vaquita will likely be extinct before recommenda-tions can be adopted at CoP19.

• Experts concluded in 2019 that the illegal totoaba fishery is “growing”, noting the “continued failure of enforcement efforts” by Mexico.44

• Secretariat, SC, and Parties should initiate formal compli-ance procedures pursuant to RC 14.3 and, inter alia:

Undertake immediate compliance missions to Mexico and China to assess efficacy of actions to combat illegal totoaba trade; and

ContinuedContinued

• Provides a draft Resolution on Conservation of the Titicaca water frog that, inter alia:

Urges all Parties to increase enforcement and prohibit sale and acquisition of the species; and

Directs Secretariat to work with Parties to increase information on the species and reduce illegal trade.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that direct, inter alia:

Madagascar to report to Secretariat on seizures, arrests, prosecutions and convictions resulting from enforcement to combat illegal trade in these species;

SC to review Madagascar’s report and make recommendations;

Secretariat to commission a guide on categories of turtle parts and derivatives in trade and report to CoP19; and

AC to review the guide.

• Provides draft revisions (Annex 2) to RC 11.9 (Rev. CoP13) on Conservation of and trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles that, inter alia, encourage Parties whose national legislation is not sufficient to control unsustainable harvest and trade, to enact legisla-tion; provides specific recommendations to Parties affected by illegal trade in these species.

• Provides update on actions taken under relevant Decisions, noting the report is not complete and Secretariat is still liaising with Mexico regarding a high-level mission.


Parties, especially range, transit and consumer States of totoaba, to report seizures and eliminate supply and demand for illegally-sourced totoaba specimens;

Secretariat to report to SC and undertake a study on totoaba and vaquita (TOR, Annex 2); and

SC to provide recommendations to CoP19.

• Provides information from Mexico (Annex 3) and USA (Annex 4); and an estimated budget for the work (Annex 5).

• The Titicaca water frog (Telmatobius culeus) is an endemic species to Lake Titicaca and native to Peru and Bolivia.

• The species is listed in Appendix I.

• Decisions 17.291 to 17.298 direct actions to Secretariat, AC, Parties, SC and Tortoise and Freshwater Turtles Task Force.

• Decisions 17.145 to 17.151, inter alia, direct range, transit or consumer States of totoaba to take enforce-ment actions and report on seizures; Secretariat to commission a report on the critically endangered vaquita porpoise and totoaba; and SC to make rec-ommendations at CoP18.

• Illegal fishing for international trade in totoaba, pri-marily of its swim bladder, is the major threat to the survival of both species.

• A March 2019 report from the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita estimates that only 10 vaquita remain (range: 6 to 22) and that “unless action is taken now, the species will be lost

87. Conservation of the Titicaca water frog (Telmatobius culeus)

CoP18 Doc. 87

Peru

88. Tortoises and

freshwater turtles (Testudines spp.)

CoP18 Doc. 88


89. Totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi)

CoP18 Doc. 89

Secretariat

73w w w . s s n . o r g


90. Black Sea bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus ponticus)

CoP18 Doc. 90

Animals Committee

91. Conservation of vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) and trade in its fibre and products

CoP18 Doc. 91

Argentina

92. Appendix-I listed species

CoP18 Doc. 92

Secretariat and Chairs of Animals and Plants Committees

within a few months or years,”42 and before CoP19. On March 14, 2019, the body of an adult female vaquita was found in an illegal gillnet.43

• Decisions 17.299 to 17.301, inter alia,

Encourage range States to use genetic analysis to identify T. truncatus specimens to subspecies and determine their origin prior to issuing an export permit; establish national or regional repositories, accessible on-line, for relevant genetic identification data; and report to AC on exports of T. t. ponticus and their origins;

Direct AC to consider information from Parties to evaluate effectiveness of the zero quota for wild specimens for primarily commercial purposes; and make recommendations to CoP18; and

Direct Secretariat to cooperate with Secretariats of relevant multilateral agreements (ACCOBAMS, CMS, Bern Convention, Bucharest Convention) to coordinate efforts regarding T. t. ponticus.

• Certain populations of V. vicugna are listed in Appendix II with an annotation allowing international trade in fibre and derivative products, if fibre comes from shearing of live vicuñas.

• Decisions 17.22-17.25, inter alia, direct Secretariat to assess the conservation status of, and legal and illegal in trade in, species included in Appendix I, with an indication of conservation priorities.

Amend draft Decision text to: strengthen reporting requirements for range, transit, and consumer countries; direct Mexico to increase its enforcement capacity, expand and strengthen its ban on gillnets in Upper Gulf of California, and augment its net removal program; and direct SC to make recommendations for compliance to Mexico at SC73 and to impose sanctions, if necessary, at SC74.

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• Provides an update on implementation of the Decisions including a report that CMS will continue to seek advice on development of a genetic registry for Black Sea bot-tlenose dolphins, potentially to be developed by CITES in collaboration with the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS).

• Provides a draft Decision (Annex 1) directing Secretariat to continue its collaboration with ACCOBAMS for effec-tive conservation of CITES-listed species of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.

• Provides a draft Resolution on Conservation of vicuña and trade in its fibre and products (Annex 1), with amendments from Secretariat (Annex 2) that, inter alia, recommend that Parties adopt appropriate legisla-tion and enforcement efforts; and Secretariat to assist range States in implementing conservation plans.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that, inter alia, direct Secretariat to commission a report identifying and pri-oritising Appendix I species that could potentially benefit from future CITES action; and AC and PC to review report and develop recommendations to Parties and CoP19.

ContinuedContinued


SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• SSN proposes retaining the direction to the SC, but pro-poses adding the words “if requested to do so by the AC” after “shall” so that SC will not have to consider all such issues.

• SSN recommends that CoP18 adopt the following defini-tion of “wild meat” which was adopted by CBD CoP14 in decision 14/7 (Nov. 2018),45 “the meat of terrestrial ver-tebrates in tropical and subtropical habitat, biomes and ecosystems which is used for food.”

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) (including Secretariat’s amendments (Annex 2)) that, inter alia, direct PC to re-establish the intersessional working group on neotrop-ical tree species; agree on a priority list of species; report on progress made in the management and conservation of and trade in these species; and make recommendations to CoP19.


Direct Secretariat to organize a workshop on conservation priorities and management needs related to trade in marine ornamental fishes; and

AC and SC to consider results and make recommendations to CoP19.

• Secretariat recommends, inter alia, that draft Decision directed to SC be deleted.


Change the term “bushmeat” to “wild meat”; and

Direct Secretariat to review implementation of RC 13.11 (Rev. CoP17) and bring any issues of concern to attention of AC and SC.

• Reports on the Initiative, and Provides related CMS Decisions 12.55 to 12.60 (Annex 1).

• Provides draft (CITES) Decisions on the Initiative that, inter alia, direct:

Secretariat to develop a dedicated Programme of Work for the Initiative; and

AC and SC to review report on the Initiative and make recommendations to range States and Secretariat.


Secretariat to collect trade and onservation information on West African vultures and provide to AC and SC; and

AC and SC to review information and provide recommendations.

• Secretariat states that trade is minimal; provides revi-sions to the draft Decisions that focus work on trade-related aspects of six West African species.

• Decision 16.159 (Rev. CoP17), inter alia, directs PC intersessional working group on neotropical tree species to continue its work and define terms of ref-erence for the group.

• The number of marine fish species in trade has increased from ca. 1,000 in 2001 to 1,471 in 2004/05 and 2,300 currently.

• An estimated1.5 billion ornamental fishes are traded globally per annum.

• The majority of this trade concerns unlisted species.

• Decisions 14.73, 14.74, 17.112 and 17.113, inter alia, invite the Central African Bushmeat Working Group to bring to the attention of the CoP any mat-ters relating to the implementation of RC 13.11 (Rev. CoP17) on Bushmeat.

• The Joint CITES-CMS African Carnivores Initiative brings coherence to the implementation of CITES and CMS through their respective Resolutions and Decisions related to four African carnivore spe-cies: African lion (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera pardus), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), and African wild dog (Lycaon pictus).

• Six West African vulture species are among the most threatened groups of migratory birds in the world, with four species Critically Endangered and two Endangered (IUCN 2019).

93. Neotropical tree species

CoP18 Doc. 93

Plants Committee

94. Conservation management of and trade in marine ornamental fishes

CoP18 Doc. 94

European Union, Switzerland and USA

95. Guidance materials, activities and tools aimed at enhancing Parties’ capacity to regulate bushmeat trade

CoP18 Doc. 95Secretariat

96. African Carnivores Initiative

CoP18 Doc. 96

Secretariat

97. West African vulture trade and conservation management

CoP18 Doc. 97

Burkina Faso, Niger and Senegal

75w w w . s s n . o r g


• Provides draft amendments to RC 4.25 (Rev. CoP14) on Reservations (Annex 1) that, inter alia:

Request the Depositary Government to not accept reservations entered after the 90-day deadline; and

Agree that withdrawal of a reservation becomes operational on the date of the Depositary’s notification to the Parties, unless a later date has been set by the Party withdrawing the reservation.

• Reports on nomenclature related activities of PC and AC.

• Notes urgent need to prepare a Dalbergia spp. check-list for Madagascar, by CoP19 if possible.

• Provides, inter alia:

Revisions to the list of standard references in the Annex to RC 12.11 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 1) for, inter alia, Cactaceae, wild sheep (Ovis spp.), seahorses (Hippocampus spp.), and African lion (Panthera leo);

Draft Decisions (Annex 2) on Cactaceae, Dalbergia spp., corals and the use of time-specific versions of online-databases;

A report (Annex 5) comparing possible new standard references for birds; and

A table (Annex 6) listing nomenclatural changes for animals proposed in the literature but not yet accepted or rejected by AC.

• Secretariat recommends, inter alia, establishing an in-session working group to review Annexes 5 and 6.

• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 1) that inter alia, direct AC and PC to evaluate how nomenclature changes affect Appendix-III listings and propose guidance and recommendations for SC; SC to review and make rec-ommendations to CoP19.

• Provides revisions to RC 9.25 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 2) that, inter alia, distinguish between guidance on to the process for inclusion in Appendix III (e.g. trade and biological considerations) and implementation of Appendix-III listings.

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends adopting the revisions to RC 12.11 and the draft Decisions, noting particularly that a Dalbergia checklist is essential for implementation of the listing of this genus in Madagascar.

• SSN supports Secretariat’s recommendation to establish an in-session working group.

• SSN notes that Annex 6 includes the proposed recogni-tion of the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) as distinct from P. abelii; though adopting this change would not alter its current Appendix I status, it could help raise awareness of the immediate threats facing this species.

SUPPORT

• RC 12.11 (Rev. CoP17) on Standard nomenclature (Annex) provides the current list of standard nomen-clatural references adopted by the CoP.

• At CoP17 Decisions on nomenclature were directed to PC, AC, Secretariat and Parties on timber identification, Malagasy ebonies (Diospyros spp.) and palisanders and rosewoods (Dalbergia spp.), identification of CITES-listed corals in trade, use of time-specific versions of online databases as standard nomenclature references, bird family and order names, African lion (Panthera leo), and Cactaceae (checklist adopted at CoP17).

• RC 9.25 (Rev. CoP17) on Inclusion of species in Appendix III, inter alia, provides guidance for Parties considering Appendix III listings;

• Decisions 17.303 to 17.305 direct AC, PC and SC to develop guidance on the application of Appendix III.

98. Reservations with respect to amendments to Appendices I and II

CoP18 Doc. 98

Secretariat

99. Standard Nomenclature

CoP18 Doc. 99

Plants and Animals Committees in collaboration with the Secretariat

100. Inclusion of species in Appendix III

CoP18 Doc. 100

Secretariat, at the request of the Standing Committee, in consultation with Chairs of the Standing Committee and Working Group on Appendix III


101. Annotations

CoP18 Doc. 101

Standing Committee

102. Annotations for Appendix-II orchids

CoP18 Doc. 102

Standing Committee

103. Guidance for the publication of the Appendices

CoP18 Doc. 103

Canada

104. Review of Resolution Conf. 10.9 on Consideration of proposals for the transfer of African elephant popu-lations from Appendix I to Appendix II

CoP18 Doc. 104

Standing Committee

• Many listings in the Appendices are annotated (e.g. to indicate that only specific parts and derivatives are included).

• RC 11.21 (Rev. CoP17), on Use of Annotations in Appendices I and II, provides guidance.

• Decision 16.162, inter alia, directs SC to establish an intersessional working group on Annotations and assigns an array of tasks to the group.

• Decision 17.318, inter alia, directs PC re-establish a Working Group on Annotations for Appendix II Orchids and analyze the potential conservation impact of orchid exemptions.

• RC 10.9 provides that “all proposals to transfer populations of the African elephant from Appendix I to Appendix II shall be subject to review by a panel of experts”.

• Invites CoP to:

Adopt revisions to RC 11.21 (Rev. CoP17) (Annex 1) and to para. 7 on \ interpretation of the CITES Appendices (Annex 2);

Adopt revision of Annotation #15;

Revise Decision 16.162 to continue the work of the WG (Annex 3); and

Adopt Decisions (Annex 4) directing SC to develop a mechanism to conduct a periodic review of existing annotations, a screening process for future annota-tions, and an information system to process all rele-vant data related to trade in CITES-listed tree species.

• Provides a draft definition of the term ‘cosmetics’.


PC to seek information on trade in orchid parts and derivatives in consideration of the potential conservation impact of exempting orchid products from CITES controls; review the current annotation for Appendix II-listed orchids, suggest amendments, and report to SC; and

SC to make recommendations to CoP19.

• Secretariat provides amended text for the draft Decisions (Annex 2) with a tentative budget (Annex 3).

• Provides draft Decisions directing Secretariat to develop guidance for improved clarity and predict-ability in presentation of the Appendices; and SC to review this guidance and provide recommendations.

• Secretariat suggests amendments that delete description of the type of guidance to provide.

• Invites CoP to repeal RC 10.9.

SUPPORT IN PART /OPPOSE IN PART

• SSN recommends adoption of proposed revisions to RC 11.21 (Rev. CoP17) and the interpretative section to the CITES Appendices.

• SSN opposes the suggested revision for Annotation #15 on exemptions for musical instruments and items with 500g or less of the listed species; See SSN View under CoP18 Prop. 52.

SUPPORT

• SSN recommends that CoP18 establish an in-session working group to examine the alternate texts in Annexes 1 and 2 to ensure that the conservation concerns raised by the SC are fully addressed in the final text.

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

• The process in RC 10.9 has been rendered unnecessary by the adoption of science-based listing criteria in RC 9.24 (Rev. CoP17), and in recent years the CoP has made limited use of the reports of the Panel of Experts.

77w w w . s s n . o r g

1 CoP18 Inf. Doc. 6 2 Members of the Africa Elephant Coalition, which announced support for the giraffe proposal, include Benin, Burkina Faso,

Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Togo, and Uganda.

3 https://www.traffic.org/site/assets/files/5228/seasia-otter-report.pdf 4 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2287884X18302681#bib16 5 https://www.traffic.org/site/assets/files/5228/seasia-otter-report.pdf 6 https://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/osg-newsite/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/otter-alert-vfinal-web-100-1.pdf 7 https://www.prowildlife.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Final_Station_Living_Room.pdf 8 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2287884X18302681#bib16 9 https://www.traffic.org/site/assets/files/5228/seasia-otter-report.pdf10 https://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/osg-newsite/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/otter-alert-vfinal-web-100-1.pdf11 CITES Trade Database12 CoP18, Prop. 9, Figure 1, p. 5.13 CITES Trade Database14 SC70 Doc. 5615 SC70 Doc. 5616 https://nc.iucnredlist.org/redlist/species-of-the-day/loxodonta-africana/pdfs/original/loxodonta-africana.pdf 17 CITES Trade Database18 https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-060_D.pdf 19 http://www.greatelephantcensus.com/final-report, where “carcass ratio” is the percentage of dead elephants observed during

the count.20 https://www.iucn.org/content/african-elephant-status-report-2016-update-african-elephant-database21 MIKE report for CoP18 (CoP18 Doc. 69.2)22 CoP18 Doc. 69.323 https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Tons-of-Zambia-ivory-stolen-2012062024 https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/zambia_elephant_policy_2003.pdf25 Thouless et al 2016 - the AESR 2016 report26 The Livingstone biweekly. 2018. New Crime Fighting Equipment for the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, available

at, https://thelivingstoneweekly.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/tlbw24jan18.pdf27 If propolsal is accepted, the following paragraphs would be deleted from annotation 2:

g) iv) raw ivory pursuant to the conditional sale of registered government-owned ivory stocks agreed at CoP12, which are 20,000 kg (Botswana), 10,000 kg (Namibia) and 30,000 kg (South Africa);

v) in addition to the quantities agreed at CoP12, government-owned ivory from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe registered by 31 January 2007 and verified by the Secretariat may be traded and despatched, with the ivory in paragraph (g) iv) above, in a single sale per destination under strict supervision of the Secretariat;

vii) the additional quantities specified in paragraph g) v) above shall be traded only after the Standing Committee has agreed that the above conditions have been met; and

h) no further proposals to allow trade in elephant ivory from populations already in Appendix II shall be submitted to the Conference of the Parties for the period from CoP14 and ending nine years from the date of the single sale of ivory that is to take place in accordance with provisions in paragraphs g) i), g) ii), g) iii), g) vi) and g) vii). In addition such further proposals shall be dealt with in accordance with Decisions 16.55 and 14.78 (Rev. CoP16).

28 https://nc.iucnredlist.org/redlist/species-of-the-day/loxodonta-africana/pdfs/original/loxodonta-africana.pdf29 CITES Trade Database30 UNODC. 2010. The Globalization of Crime: A Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment at 278.31 CoP17 Doc. 57.6; SC62 Doc. 46.132 CoP18 Doc. 69.233 CoP18 Doc. 69.334 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/70/E-SC70-49-01x-A1.pdf35 https://www.sciencealert.com/surprise-dna-find-shows-mammoth-tusks-are-substituting-for-ivory-in-cambodia36 http://savetheelephants.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2014_ChinaConservationChallenge.pdf37 Zhou, C. et al. (2015). Dramatic decline of the Vulnerable Reeves's pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii, endemic to central China.

Oryx 49(3): 529–53438 https://www.wetlands.org/download/2876/

39 CITES Trade Database40 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/ac/26/E26-12-02-A.pdf41 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/ac/26/E26-12-02-A.pdf42 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/ac/26/E26-12-02-A.pdf43 http://www.oas.org/en/sedi/dsd/ELPG/aboutELPG/Cacutus_english_Case.pdf44 http://www.cea.lk/web/images/pdf/redlist2012.pdf45 https://bit.ly/2SKQ3eb46 https://www.prowildlife.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014_Stolen-Wildlife-Report.pdf --- see pp. 8-947 https://www.prowildlife.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014_Stolen-Wildlife-Report.pdf --- see pp. 8-948 https://www.prowildlife.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014_Stolen-Wildlife-Report.pdf --- see pp. 8-949 https://www.korallenriff.de/artikel/1048_Deutsche_Zoofachleute_auf_Sri_Lanka__verbesserten_Importchancen_auf_der_

Spur.html 50 Bahir, M. & Surasinghe, T. (2005): A conservation assessment of the Sri Lankan Agamidae (Reptilia; Sauria). Raffles Bull. Zool.

Suppl. 12: 407–412.51 Sarkar, D. (2018). Astronomically high value illegal lizard trade has taken deeper root. Economic Times, Jan. 15, 2018 (https://

economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/astronomically-high-value-illegal-lizard-trade-has-taken-deeper-root/articleshow/62508848.cms?from=mdr).

52 https://www.iucn-isg.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Cteno_ID_Guide-LowRez_15Aug2011.pdf53 Pham Van et al. (2019): Longitudinal monitoring of turtle trade through Facebook in Vietnam. Herpetological Journal 29: 48-5654 Pham Van et al. (2019): Longitudinal monitoring of turtle trade through Facebook in Vietnam. Herpetological Journal 29: 48-5655 Mwaya, R.T. et al. 2018. Malacochersus tornieri (Siebenrock 1903) – Pancake Tortoise, Tornier’s Tortoise, Soft-shelled

Tortoise, Crevice Tortoise, Kobe Ya Mawe, Kobe Kama Chapati. In: Rhodin, A.G.J. et al. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs 5(12):107.1–15

56 Jiang JP. 2015. Amphibians, in China Biodiversity Red List ---Vertebrate Volume. Jointly released by Ministry of Environment and Chinese Academy of Sciences. (In Chinese)

57 Rowley et al. (2016): Estimating the global trade in Southeast Asian newts. Biological Conservation 199:96-100.58 https://cites-analysis.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/proposal/attachments_en/111/Prop43Guitarfish.pdf59 https://cites-analysis.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/proposal/attachments_en/112/Prop44Wedgefish.pdf60 Purcell, S.W., D. Williamson, P. Ngaluafe. 2018. Chinese market prices of beche-de-mer: Implications for fisheries and

aquaculture. Marine Policy (2018) 58-6561 http://www.isaet.org/images/extraimages/P0815J2I4%20New.pdf62 Siliwal, M., Molur, S. & Raven, R. 2011. Mygalomorphs of India: An Overview. Arthropods and their Conservation in India

(Insects & Spiders). ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife & Protected Areas, Wildlife Institute of India. 175-188.63 https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/63561/1269171264 Page, M.G.P. and Treadaway, C.G. 2004. Papilionidae of the Philippine Islands. In: Bauer, E. and Frankenbach, T. (Eds.).

Butterflies of the world, Supplement 8. Goecke & Evers, Keltern. 58.65 https://www.theinsectcollector.com/acatalog/bn_Papilionidae5.html66 http://www.collector-secret.com/insect/butterfly/parides/67 http://www.bgci.org/resources/article/0828/68 http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regexpert/index.cfm?do=groupDetail.groupDetailDoc&id=33603&no=5169 Proposed amendments to Annotation #15: "All parts and derivatives, except: a) Leaves, flowers, pollen, fruits, and seeds; b)

Non-commercial exports of a maximum total weight of 10 kg. per shipment finished products to a maximum weight of wood of the listed species of 500g per item; c) finished musical instruments, finished musical instrument parts and finished musical instrument accessories; d) parts and derivatives of Dalbergia cochinchinensis, which are covered by annotation # 4; e) parts and derivatives of Dalbergia spp. originating and exported from Mexico, which are covered by annotation # 6."

70 CITES Trade Database71 High Beam Research. 2018. Measuring music products revenues in 2017. https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-534019536.html72 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/pc/23/E-PC23-15-03-A2.pdf73 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/70/exsum/E-SC70-Sum-06-R1.pdf74 https://www.cifor.org/library/6826/75 https://www.cifor.org/library/6826/76 http://projects.nri.org/adappt/docs/Aloe_factsheet.pdf77 CITES Trade Database78 Pennington, T. D. & Muellner, A. N. 2010. A monograph of Cedrela (Meliaceae). DH Books. UK.

PROPOSAL ENDNOTES

78

1 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/70/Inf/E-SC70-Inf-44.pdfn

2 UNODC. 2017. Criminal justice response to wildlife crime in Thailand: A Rapid Assessment; UNODC. 2018. Cambodia amends legal loophole for wildlife trafficking, but still facing law enforcement obstacles; TRAFFIC. 2018. Slow and Steady: The Global Footprint of Jakarta’s Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Trade; EIA. 2016. Time for Action: End the criminality and corruption fuelling wildlife crime; EIA. 2018. Taking Stock: An assessment of progress under the National Ivory Action Plan process.

3 https://cites.org/eng/resources/reports/Annual_Illegal_trade_report

4 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/notif/E-Notif-2017-006-A_0.pdf

5 “This information should be carried, on a case by case basis, from as close to the point of harvest as practicable and needed, to the point at which the information facilitates the verification of legal acquisition and non-detrimental findings and helps prevent laundering of illegal products.”

6 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/70/exsum/E-SC70-Sum-10-R1.pdf

7 Nabi, G., Khan, S., Ahmad, S., Khan, A., & Siddique, R. (2017). China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): an alarming threat to the biodiversity of Northern Pakistan. Biodiversity and Conservation, 26(12), 3003-3004.

8 https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6557/16980917

9 https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6557/16980917

10 CITES Trade Database

11 See RC 14.6 (Rev. CoP16) on Introduction from the Sea

12 PC24 Inf. 7/SC70 Inf. 36

13 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/cop/18/doc/E-CoP18-076-01.pdf

14 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/70/Inf/E-SC70-Inf-44.pdf

15 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/69/E-SC69-46-01.pdf

16 UNEP. 2016. Analysis of environmental Impacts of illegal trade in wildlife. United Nations Environment Programme. PP 1-54.

17 UNEP. 2016. Analysis of environmental Impacts of illegal trade in wildlife. United Nations Environment Programme. PP 1-54

18 Scheele et al. (2019) Amphibian fungal panzootic causes catastrophic and ongoing loss of biodiversity. Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.aav0379.

19 Gilbert M, Bickford D, Clark L et al (2013) Amphibian pathogens in Southeast Asian frog trade. EcoHealth 9:386-398

20 SC70 Doc 49.1 Annex 1

21 EIA (Nov. 2014), Vanishing Point - Criminality, Corruption and the Devastation of Tanzania’s Elephants, http://eia-international.org/vanishing-point-criminality-corruption-and-the-devastation-of-tanzanias-elephants; EIA (March 2012), Blood Ivory: Exposing the Myth of a Regulated Market, http://eia-international.org/bloodivory-exposing-the-myth-of-a-regulated-market; Elephant Action League (2015), Blending Ivory: China’s old loopholes, new hopes; Save the Elephants (2014), China faces a conservation challenge: The expanding elephant and mammoth ivory trade in Beijing and Shanghai; TRAFFIC (2014), ETIS report of TRAFFIC, CoP16 Doc. 53.2.2 at 14, 19; CITES Secretariat (2013), Report of the Secretariat: Monitoring of illegal trade in ivory and other elephant specimens, CoP16 Doc. 53.2.1, ¶ 34; Esmond Martin and Lucy Vigne (2011), The Ivory Dynasty: A Report on the Soaring Demand for Elephant and Mammoth Ivory in Southern China; IFAW (2012), Making a Killing: A 2011 Survey of Ivory Markets in China; EIA (2015), Japan’s Illegal Ivory Trade and Fraudulent Registration of Ivory Tusks, http://eia-global.org/news-media/fraudulent-tusk-registration-fuels-ivory-trade-in-japan.

22 Defra, Ivory Bill Factsheet – overview, 23 May 2018

23 McGrath, M. BBC. (2016) Call to close ivory markets agreed at Cites conference. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37535717

24 Kitade, T. and Nishino, R. (2017). Ivory Towers: An assessment of Japan’s ivory trade and domestic market. TRAFFIC. Tokyo, Japan

25 INTERPOL, IFAW (2013) Project Web: An investigation into the ivory trade over the internet within the European Union; Lau, W., Crook, V., Musing, L., Guan, J. and Xu, L. (2016) A rapid survey of UK ivory markets. TRAFFIC, Cambridge, UK; IFAW (2012) Killing with keystrokes 2.0: IFAW’s investigation into the European online ivory trade. IFAW (2018) Disrupt: Wildlife Cybercrime: uncovering the scale of online wildlife trade; Martin, E., and Stiles, D., (2005) Ivory Markets of Europe, a survey in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, Save the Elephants; Ares, E. and Pratt, A. The Ivory Bill, Briefing Paper Number 7875, House of Commons, 28 June 2018, quoting Defra, Ivory Bill Factsheet – overview, 23 May 2018; TRAFFIC (2019) Examining options for possible restrictions on ivory trade in and from the EU – Summary of EU Member States responses to the European Commission questionnaire. Prepared for the European Commission.

26 https://www.cites.org/sites/default/files/document/E-Res-12-05-R17.pdf. Asian big cat species: tiger (Panthera tigris), snow leopard (Uncia uncia), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosi) all subspecies of leopard (Panthera pardus) within its Asian range, and Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica).

27 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/70/E-SC70-51-A2-R1.pdf

28 “all Parties that make seizures of tiger skins within their territories, when possible, to share images of the seized tiger skins with the national focal points or agencies in tiger range States, which have photographic identification databases for tigers, and the capacity to identify tigers from photographs of tiger skins, so as to identify the origin of illegal specimens. The images should be taken from above with the skin spread. In the case of whole tiger carcasses seized with the skin intact, images should be taken of both sides of the carcass.”

29 http://globaltigerforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Report_3rd-Stocktaking-Conference-1.pdf

30 Kuo, Ting-Chun & A. Vincent (2018): Assessing the changes in international trade of marine fishes under CITES regulations-A case study of seahorses. Marine Policy 88: 48-57.

31 Foster, S.J. et al. (2018): Global seahorse trade defies export bans under CITES action and national legislation. Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. Working Paper #2018-01. http://oceans.ubc.ca/files/2018/12/WorkingPaper2018-01CITES.pdf

32 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/69/E-SC69-57-A.pdf

33 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/69/sum/E-SC69-SR.pdf, paragraph 57.

34 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/record-haul-of-pangolin-scales-worth-52-million-seized-from-container-at-pasir

35 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-seizures/hong-kong-customs-seize-record-haul-of-pangolin-scales-bound-for-vietnam-idUSKCN1PQ3LU

36 http://www.africanliongroup.org/uploads/5/0/0/7/5007626/alwg_statement_on_captive-bred_lion_hunting_3.pdf

37 Quigley, H., Foster, R., Petracca, L., Payan, E., Salom, R. & Harmsen, B. 2017. Panthera onca (errata version published in 2018).

38 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/ac/30/com/E-AC30-Com-01-R.pdf

39 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/10/wildlife-watch-news-china-rhino-tiger-legal/

40 https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/70/E-SC70-57.pdf

41 https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minam/noticias/22805-peru-y-bolivia-priorizan-actividades-para-conservacion-de-la-rana-gigante-y-del-zambullidor-del-lago-titicaca

42 Report of the Eleventh meeting of the Comite Internacional para la Recuperacion de la Vaquita (CIRVA 11). Available at: http://www.iucn-csg.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/CIRVA-11-Final-Report-6-March.pdf

43 See http://www.iucn-csg.org/index.php/2019/03/19/dead-vaquita-found-in-totoaba-net/

44 Report of the Eleventh meeting of the Comite Internacional para la Recuperacion de la Vaquita (CIRVA 11).

45 https://www.cbd.int/decisions/cop/?m=cop-14

WORKING DOCUMENT ENDNOTES

NOTES

NOTES

The Species Survival Network

Photo credits: Front outside cover: Poecilotheria spp. (Morkelsker); Isurus oxyrinchus (Patrick Doll); Centrolenella prosoblepon (Brian Gratwicke); Balearica pavonina (Bernard DUPONT); Cedrela spp. (mauro halpern); Ceratotherium simum (Safaritravelplus); Aonyx cinereus (Patrick Gijsbers); Gekko gecko (Budak). Front inside cover: (Lyriocephalus scutatus) Jason Bazzano / Alamy Stock Photo. Back inside cover: Loxodonta africana GUDKOV ANDREY/Shutterstock.com. Back outside cover: Giraffa camelopardalis Volodymyr Burdiak/Shutterstock.com. Proposals: Jiří Sedláček aka Frettie (Prop. 1); Alexandre Buisse (Prop. 2); Alexandre Buisse (Prop. 3); Fir0002/Flagstaffotos (Prop. 4); Budak (Prop. 5); Andrey Giljov (Prop. 6); © Hans Hillewaert (Prop. 7); Safaritravelplus (Prop. 8, 9); Seve Slatter (Prop. 10, 11, 12); IJReid (Prop. 13); XiscoNL (Prop. 14); Photo of similar in appearance, Pseudomys hermannsburgensis, Christopher Watson (Prop. 15); John attkinson (Prop. 16); Michael Barritt & Karen May (Prop. 17); Moebius1 (Prop. 18); Bernard DUPONT (Prop. 19); John Gould (Prop. 20); H. Grønvold (Prop. 21); Tomás Castelazo (Prop. 22); Cherubino (Prop. 23); Calynn (Prop. 24); Suranjan Fernando (Prop. 25); Nyanatusita (Prop. 26); Lisen67 (Prop. 27); Budak (Prop. 28); Matthijs Kuijpers /Alamy Stock Photo (Prop. 29); SpydercoGecko (Prop. 30); Keith Pomakis (Prop. 31); Omid Mozaffari (Prop. 32); Torsten Blanck (Prop. 33); Ulrich Hennen (ulih.) (Prop. 34); Adam G. Stern (Prop. 35); Davidraju (Prop. 36); Nevit Dilmen (Prop. 37); Brian Gratwicke (Prop. 38); ©2015 Axel Hernandez (Prop. 39); Charles Lam (Prop. 40); Seánín Óg (Prop. 41); Patrick Doll (Prop. 42); Joachim S. Müller (Prop. 43); Bobo Boom (Prop. 44); Frederic Ducarme (Prop. 45); Morkelsker (Prop. 46); Anaxibia (Prop. 47); Totodu74 (Prop. 48); Haneesh K M (Prop. 49); Amanita Phalloides (Prop. 50); Scott Zona (Prop. 51); Forest and Kim Starr (Prop. 52); CIFOR (Prop. 53); Luis Catarino (Prop. 54); Stan Shebs (Prop. 55); Bernard Gagnon (Prop. 56); mauro halpern (Prop. 57)

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SSN Board Members: Will Travers (Chair), Dr. Teresa Telecky (Vice-Chair), Wim de Kok (Treasurer), Sue Fisher (Secretary), Debbie Banks, Juan Carlos Cantú, Kelly Dent, Elodie Gerome, Geert Drieman, Barry Kent MacKay, Dr. Ronald Orenstein and Linda Paul

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