[MPWG] CITES: Public input requested for CoP14

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

The fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP14) is
tentatively scheduled for June 3-15, 2007 in the Netherlands.

The public is requested to submit Information and Recommendations on
Species Proposals, Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items for
Consideration at the Fourteenth Regular Meeting of the Conference of the
Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); U.S. Approach for the Meeting of the
Conference of the Parties.

Information and comments are requested by March 20, 2006.  For details on
submitting comments, see the full notice at:
<http://www.fws.gov/international/fedregister/fedreg.html>.

This notice is the first request for information.  Another notice will be
published around August 2006, announcing tentative species proposals, draft
resolutions, etc.  See "Future actions" in the full text of the FR notice
for more information.

For those of you who are interested in learning more about CITES, I have
compiled some information with weblinks for more info in case your
curiousity is sparked.

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CITES in a nutshell

WHAT IS CITES?
>>CITES is a treaty that aims to ensure that international trade in animal
and plant species is not detrimental to the survival of wild populations
through a system of permits.  The treaty entered into force in 1975.  The
CITES web address is: <www.cites.org>.

ABOUT THE PARTIES...
>>Currently, CITES includes 169 members.  To see a list of the member
countries, go to: http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/parties/index.shtml

>>In the United States, CITES is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service in conjunction with other agencies, such as the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.  For more information, see: <http://www.fws.gov/international/
>.

>>The CITES world is divided into six regions: Africa, Asia, Central and
South American and the Caribbean, Europe, North American and Oceania.  The
United States is part of the North American Region, which also includes
Canada and Mexico.  See <http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/AC_PC.shtml#dir>.

>>Several regularly-scheduled international meetings are convened in order
to execute this treaty, including:

The Conference of the Parties (CoP) - Until CoP13, these meeting were held
every two years.  Representatives from all 169 Parties may participate in
this meeting.  The time between CoPs has been changed to every three years.
For more on previous CoPs (agendas, species proposals),
http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/index.shtml.

The Plants Committee - Held annually, this meeting is attended by
representatives from each region represented in CITES.  Currently, the
United States is the North American regional representative, with Canada as
the alternate.  See <http://www.cites.org/eng/com/PC/member.shtml>.

The Animals Committee - Held annually, this meeting is attended by
representatives from each region represented in CITES.  Currently, Mexico
is the North American regional representative, and the United States is the
alternate.  See: <http://www.cites.org/eng/com/AC/member.shtml>.

The Standing Committee - Meetings are held as needed.  Currently, Canada is
the North American regional representative, and Mexico is the alternate.
See: <http://www.cites.org/eng/com/SC/member.shtml>.

ABOUT THE SPECIES...
>>Under CITES, species may be listed on one of 3 appendices, each
conferring a different level of regulation, with the most stringent
controls for Appendix I species.  Species listed on Appendix I are
threatened with extinction and trade is permitted only under strict
circumstances.  Species listed on Appendix II are impacted by trade at a
level that requires monitoring in order to avoid threats to extinction.
Appendix III listings essentially provides a monitoring system that allows
countries to enlist assistance of international trading partners to better
understand the level of trade in those species.  For more information on
the CITES appendices, see: <http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/how.shtml>.

>>Permits are required for species that are listed on any of the three
CITES appendices.  For more on permits, see: <http://www.fws.gov/permits/>.

WHAT SPECIES ARE LISTED?
>>Current totals for U.S. native species listed on CITES are: 654 plants
and 832 animals.  Several U.S.-native medicinal plants are listed on CITES,
including goldenseal and American ginseng.  To find out more about these
species, go to the CITES-listed species database at:
http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html

You can search the database two ways:

To look just at the species native to the United States:
      From the CITES species website:
http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html
      Under the column "Search by country", there is a pull-down menu.
            Select United States.
            Click on "Go"

      You will see a tabular summary of the number of listed animals and
plants native to the United States.
            You can click on any of the appendices or click on the link
below each table to get a full list of the species that are listed.

To search by species name:
      Start at the main CITES species website:
<http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html>.
      Under the "Search by name" column, select "Genus."
      Type in the genus of the native plant of interest.
            Hit enter.
            Click on "Display Results" at the bottom half of the screen.
      You'll see a list of all species in the genus of interest.
            Click on the species of interest.
            Click on any of the tabs above the species entry to get more
information on the species.

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW CITES WORKS?
>>CITES World - biennial newsletter of CITES.  You can view issues dating
back to 1999 at: <http://www.cites.org/eng/news/newsletter.shtml>.

Highlights from previous issues that may be of interest to you:
      Issue 16 (Dec 2005) - U.S. procedures for handling confiscated
      species
      Issue 15 (July 2005) - U.S. and the Lacey Act
      Issue 14 (Dec 2004) - Accessing CITES trade data

>>Endangered Species Bulletin - The September 2005 issues of the Endangered
Species bulletin focused wholly on CITES.  You can view this issue at: <
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esb/2005/ESB09-05.pdf>.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *