[PCA] Preparations for the 2010 Meeting of CITES

Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov
Fri Jul 17 09:53:23 CDT 2009


The fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP15) to CITES 
(Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) is tentatively 
scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, March 13-25, 2010. 

This e-mail has two parts:

Announcement and Request for input regarding U.S. Submissions to the next 
CoP

In preparation for this meeting, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has 
published a second Federal Register notice to describe proposed 
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the United States is 
considering submitting for consideration at CoP15; describe proposed 
amendments to the CITES Appendices (species proposals) that the United 
States is considering submitting for consideration at CoP15; invite your 
comments and information on these proposals; and provide information on 
how nongovernmental organizations based in the United States can attend 
CoP15 as observers.

Comments and information are welcome!  Regarding the resolutions, 
decisions, and agenda items that the United States is likely to submit, 
currently undecided about submitting, or currently planning not to submit; 
and also with regard to the species proposals, especially if you are able 
to provide any additional biological or trade information on these 
species. 

Deadline for comments:  September 11, 2009.

The full notice is available on our website.  Below I have listed items 
that relate specifically to plants species. 

CITES in a nutshell

For an excellent overview of CITES (if I don't say so myself!), see "CITES 
in a nutshell," below.

Stay tuned!  I will also post more information when the CoP15 agenda 
becomes available.

Thank you!
-Patricia

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 110
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

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Announcement and Request for input regarding U.S. Submissions to the next 
CoP
 
On July 13, 2009, the Service published its second CITES CoP15 Federal 
Register Notice: Conference of the Parties to the Convention on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); 
Fifteenth Regular Meeting: Proposed Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda 
Items Being Considered; Taxa Being Considered for Amendments to the CITES 
Appendices; Observer Information. We have also posted an extended version 
of this notice on this website with text describing in more detail each of 
the issues the United States is considering for CITES CoP15, and 
explaining the rationale for the tentative U.S. position on each issue. 
The deadline for receiving information and comments on the issues raised 
in this notice is September 11, 2009

Summary
http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/E9-16410.pdf

"Extended Version"
http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/Notice2-possible%20US%20submissions%20WEB.pdf

Items pertaining to Plants (along with the current U.S. position)


 I. Recommendations for Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items for the 
United States To Consider Submitting for CoP15 

A. What resolutions, decisions, and agenda items is the United States 
likely to submit for consideration at CoP15? 

2. Appendix-III timber listings annotated to include only the national 
populations of the listing countries 

B. On what resolutions, decisions, and agenda items is the United States 
still undecided, pending additional information and consultations? 

1. Impacts of climate change on CITES-listed species 

C. What resolutions, decisions, and agenda items is the United States not 
likely to submit for consideration at CoP15, unless we receive significant 
additional information? 

1. Resolution on units used on CITES permits and in CITES Annual Reports 

4. Scientific basis for making non-detriment findings 

II. Recommendations for Species Proposals for the United States To 
Consider Submitting for CoP15 

A. What species proposals is the United States likely to submit for 
consideration at CoP15? 

1. Flasked seedlings ? Amendment of the annotation for Appendix-I orchid 
species to make it consistent with the language in Resolution Conf. 11.11 
(Rev. CoP14) pertaining to flasked seedlings 

B. On what species proposals is the United States still undecided, pending 
additional information and consultations? 

1. Cedars (Cedrela spp.) ? Inclusion in Appendix II

2. Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera) ? Removal from Appendix II 

C. What species proposals is the United States not likely to submit for 
consideration at CoP15, unless we receive significant additional 
information?  

        No submissions for plants.

DATES: We will consider written information and comments you submit 
concerning potential species proposals, and proposed resolutions, 
decisions, and agenda items that the United States is considering 
submitting for consideration at CoP15, and other items relating to CoP15, 
if we receive them by September 11, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments pertaining to proposed resolutions, decisions, and 
agenda items should be sent to the Division of Management Authority, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 212, Arlington, 
VA 22203, or via e-mail at: CoP15 at fws.gov, or via fax at: 703?358?2298. 
Comments pertaining to species proposals should be sent to the Division of 
Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax 
Drive, Room 110, Arlington, VA 22203, or via e-mail at: 
scientificauthority at fws.gov, or via fax at: 703?358?2276.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information pertaining to 
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items contact: Robert R. Gabel, Chief, 
Division of Management Authority, phone 703? 358?2095, fax 703?358?2298, 
e-mail: CoP15 at fws.gov. For information pertaining to species proposals 
contact: Rosemarie Gnam, Chief, Division of Scientific Authority, phone 
703?358? 1708, fax 703?358?2276, e-mail: scientificauthority at fws.gov.

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CITES in a nutshell*

WHAT IS CITES?
>>CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species 
that entered into force in 1975.

This aim of the Convention is to ensure that international trade of 
CITES-listed animal and plant species is not detrimental to the survival 
of wild populations.  This is accomplished through a system of permits. 
The CITES web address is: <www.cites.org>.

WHAT ABOUT THE PARTIES...
>>There are currently 175 Parties (member countries ) to CITES.  For a 
list of the Parties, see: <www.cites.org/eng/disc/parties/index.shtml>.

In the United States, CITES is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service in coordination other agencies, such as the National Marine 
Fisheries Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For more 
information, see: <www.fws.gov/international/DMA_DSA/CITES/CITES_home.html
>.

The CITES world is divided into six regions: Africa, Asia, Central and 
South America 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 <www.cites.org/eng/disc/AC_PC.shtml#dir>.

WHAT ABOUT THE MEETINGS...
>>CITES convenes several international meetings in order to execute the 
treaty, including:

The Conference of the Parties (CoP) - Until CoP13, these meeting were held 
every two years.  The time between CoPs has been changed to every three 
years.  Decisions, Resolutions and species listings are discussed and 
voted on at CoPs.  Representatives from all 175 Parties may participate in 
this meeting.  The next CoP, CoP15, is tentatively scheduled to be held in 
Doha, Qatar, March 13-25, 2010.  Proceedings or summary records are 
available online going back to 1992.
see <www.cites.org/eng/cop/index.shtml>

The Plants Committee - Held annually to discuss Resolutions and species 
listings pertaining to plants. 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.  The 
last PC, PC18, was held in March 2009.  Proceedings or summary records are 
available online going back to 1999.
see <www.cites.org/eng/com/PC/member.shtml>

The Animals Committee - Held annually to discuss Resolutions and species 
listings pertaining to animals. 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.  The last AC, AC24, was held in April 2009.  Proceedings or 
summary records are available online going back to 1995.
see: <www.cites.org/eng/com/AC/member.shtml>

The Standing Committee - Meetings are held as needed, usually once a year 
and before and after every CoP.  The Standing Committee provides policy 
guidance on the implementation of the Convention, among other things. 
Currently, Canada is the North American regional representative, and 
Mexico is the alternate.  The last SC, SC58, was held in July 2009. 
Proceedings or summary records are available online going back to 1992.
see: <www.cites.org/eng/com/SC/member.shtml>

CAN I ATTEND THESE MEETINGS?
>>National and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may 
become an observers to a CITES meeting.  Observers at a CoP may attend all 
plenary and committee sessions, and comment in these sessions on any of 
the issues. However, they are not permitted to vote on proposals. 

For observers from the United States, the U.S. Government?s delegation 
provides daily briefings at each COP for U.S. observers.  U.S.-based NGOs 
may apply to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to become an observer. For 
more information, see: <www.fws.gov/international/DMA_DSA/CITES/pdf/ob.pdf
>.

WHAT SPECIES ARE REGULATED BY CITES?
>>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.  For more on the CITES appendices, see: <
www.cites.org/eng/disc/how.shtml>.

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.  For more 
information, see: 
<www.fws.gov/international/DMA_DSA/CITES/pdf/appIIsustainableuse.pdf>. 

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, 
see: <www.fws.gov/international/DMA_DSA/CITES/pdf/apndxiii.pdf> and how 
the FWS implements Appendix III, see: <
www.fws.gov/international/DMA_DSA/CITES/Appendix_III/overview.html>

HOW MANY CITES-SPECIES ARE THERE?
>>There are more than 5,000 animal species and 29,000 plant species listed 
in the CITES Appendices; see <www.cites.org/eng/disc/species.shtml>

Currently, there are 388 plants and 694 animals native to the United 
States listed in the CITES Appendices.  This does not include the plants 
and animals native to American Samoa, the Guam, the Northern Mariana 
Islands, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Listed plant species 
include venus flytrap and the saguaro (and all native cacti), along with 
several U.S.-native medicinal plants such as goldenseal and American 
ginseng.

HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT IS LISTED IN THE APPENDICES TO CITES?
>>To find out more about CITES-listed species, you can search the CITES 
database by species name or by country. 

To search by name (scientific name or common name):

    Start at the CITES species database page: <
www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html>.
    Under the "Search by name" column, select "Genus."
    Type the Genus of the plant of interest and hit enter. 
                You have another opportunity to select information for 
only one country.   
        To see information on all countries, click on "Display Results" at 
the bottom 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.

To search by country (i.e. for species that are native to the United 
States):

    Start at the CITES species database page: <
www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html>. 
     Under the column "Search by country", there is a pull-down menu.
          Select United States and click on "Go"
       You will see a tabular summary of the number of listed animals and 
plants native to the United States.
       Click on any of the appendices or click on the link below each 
table to get a full list of all the species that are listed.
       Click on any species entry to see information for that species. 

HOW ARE LISTED SPECIES REGULATED?
>>Permits are required for species that are listed on any of the three 
CITES appendices. 

To find out whether you need a permit and how to get it, go to: <
www.fws.gov/permits/instructions/ObtainPermit.shtml>
For more on all the permits handled by the USFWS, see: <
www.fws.gov/permits/overview/overview.shtml>

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT CITES?
>>CITES World - biennial newsletter of CITES.  You can view issues dating 
back to 1999, at: <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 - USFWS quarterly newsletter with archives 
going back to 1999, at: <www.fws.gov/Endangered/bulletin.html>

September 2005 - focused wholly on CITES. 
View this issue at: <www.fws.gov/endangered/esb/2005/ESB09-05.pdf>. 
Obtain copies of this issue by emailing me at: <Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov
> & put : "2005  Endangered Species Bulletin" in the subject line, include 
your name, address, and the number of copies you would like to receive. 
I'll do my best to fill the orders!

*"CITES in a nutshell" was compiled by Patricia De Angelis - Division of 
Scientific Authority - International Affairs Program - U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service
Updated July 2009

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