<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">The fourteenth meeting of the Convention
on International Ttrade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Conference of the Parties (CoP14) will be held on June 3-15, 2007, in the
Netherlands. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is requesting public
input on the items in the provisional agenda for CoP14 and also announces
a public meeting. Below is a summary of this notice; the full document
is at: <<u>http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/CoP14-FR3.pdf</u>>.
</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">This e-mail contains the following
information:</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">* * * * *</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">PUBLIC COMMENTS ON COP14 AGENDA
ITEMS: Accepted until April 23, 2007</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">PUBLIC MEETING: April 9, 2007,
at 1:30 p.m.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">* * * * * </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">* * * * * </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">CITES IN A NUTSHELL…</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">THE PARTIES...</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">CITES MEETINGS…</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">RESOLUTIONS, DECISIONS AND AGENDA
ITEMS…</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">SPECIES PROPOSALS…</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">CITES OBSERVERS…</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">THE SPECIES...</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">LISTED SPECIES…</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">THE CITES SPECIES DABTABASE…</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">MORE ABOUT CITES…</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">(Please note the links in this
document are not live. You must cut and paste them into your browser).</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">-Patricia</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Botanist - Division of Scientific
Authority</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance
- Medicinal Plant Working Group</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">US Fish & Wildlife Service</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Arlington, VA 22203</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">703-358-1708 x1753</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">FAX: 703-358-2276</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Working for the conservation and
sustainable use of our green natural resources.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">PUBLIC COMMENTS ON COP14 AGENDA
ITEMS: Accepted until April 23, 2007</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>With this notice The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service…solicits your comments on the items on the provisional
agenda. In developing the U.S. negotiating positions on proposed
resolutions, decisions, and species proposals, and other agenda items submitted
by other Party countries and the CITES Secretariat for consideration at
CoP14, we will consider written information and comments you submit if
we receive them by April 23, 2007.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><i>>>Comment Submission:
</i></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>Comments pertaining to proposed
resolutions, decisions, and/or agenda items should be sent to the Division
of Management Authority; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 North Fairfax
Drive; Room 700; Arlington, VA 22203; or via E-mail at: <i>cop14@fws.gov;
</i>or via fax at: 703– 358–2298. </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>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 750; Arlington,
VA 22203; or via E-mail at: <i>scientificauthority@fws.gov; </i>or via
fax at: 703–358–2276. </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>Comments and materials received
will be available for public inspection, by appointment, from 8 a.m. to
4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at either the Division of Management Authority
or the Division of Scientific Authority.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">PUBLIC MEETING: April 9, 2007,
at 1:30 p.m.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>The public meeting will
be held in the Rachel Carson Room at the Department of the Interior at
18th and C Streets, NW, Washington, DC. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>!!Due to building security
at the Department of the Interior, persons planning to attend the meeting
must notify the Division of Management Authority by March 30, 2007, to
allow us sufficient time to provide the building security staff with a
list of persons planning to attend.!! Division of Management Authority;
phone 703–358–2095; fax 703–358–2298; E-mail: <i>cop14@fws.gov.</i></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">For more information on CITES,
see below.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Botanist - Division of Scientific
Authority</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance
- Medicinal Plant Working Group</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">US Fish & Wildlife Service</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Arlington, VA 22203</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">703-358-1708 x1753</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">FAX: 703-358-2276</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Working for the conservation and
sustainable use of our green natural</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">resources.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * *</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">CITES IN A NUTSHELL…</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>><i>CITES is a treaty that
aims to ensure that international trade in animal</i></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">and plant species is not detrimental
to the survival of wild populations</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">through a system of permits. The
treaty entered into force in 1975. The</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">CITES web address is: <www.cites.org>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">THE PARTIES...</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>><i>Currently, CITES includes
169 members. To see a list of the member</i></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">countries, go to: <u>http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/parties/index.shtml</u></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>><i>In the United States,
CITES is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife</i></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Service in conjunction with other
agencies, such as the U.S. Department of</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Agriculture. For more information,
see: <<u>http://www.fws.gov/international/</u>><i>.</i></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>><i>The CITES world is divided
into six regions: Africa, Asia, Central and</i></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">South American and the Caribbean,
Europe, North American and Oceania. The</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">United States is part of the North
American Region, which also includes</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Canada and Mexico. See <<u>http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/AC_PC.shtml#dir</u>>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">CITES MEETINGS…</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>><i>Several regularly-scheduled
international meetings are convened in order</i></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">to execute this treaty, including:</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>The Conference of the Parties
(CoP) - Until CoP13, these meeting were held</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">every two years. The time
between CoPs has been changed to every three years. Representatives
from all 169 Parties may participate in this meeting. </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">For more on previous CoPs (agendas,
species proposals),</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><u>http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/index.shtml.</u></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>The Plants Committee -
Held annually, this meeting is attended by</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">representatives from each region
represented in CITES. Currently, the</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">United States is the North American
regional representative, with Canada as</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">the alternate. See <<u>http://www.cites.org/eng/com/PC/member.shtml</u>>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>The Animals Committee -
Held annually, this meeting is attended by</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">representatives from each region
represented in CITES. Currently, Mexico</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">is the North American regional
representative, and the United States is the</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">alternate. See: <<u>http://www.cites.org/eng/com/AC/member.shtml</u>>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>The Standing Committee
- Meetings are held as needed. Currently, Canada is</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">the North American regional representative,
and Mexico is the alternate.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">See: <<u>http://www.cites.org/eng/com/SC/member.shtml</u>>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">RESOLUTIONS, DECISIONS AND AGENDA
ITEMS…</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">The CoP14 Provisional Agenda (at:
<</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><u>http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/14/doc/index.shtml</u></font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>)
provides the list of items to be discussed at the meeting, along with the
documents received thus far to support these discussions.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>Comments on the resolutions,
decisions and agenda items listed here should be directed to: Division
of Management Authority; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 North Fairfax
Drive; Room 700; Arlington, VA 22203; or via E-mail at: <i>cop14@fws.gov;
</i>or via fax at: 703– 358–2298, by April 23, 2007. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">SPECIES PROPOSALS…</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>Note Item 68 on the provisional
agenda: Proposals to Amend Appendices I & II. These proposals
are found at the following link: <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><u>http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/14/prop/index.shtml</u></font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>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 750; Arlington,
VA 22203; or via E-mail at: <i>scientificauthority@fws.gov; </i>or via
fax at: 703–358–2276, by April 23, 2007. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">CITES OBSERVERS…</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>Non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) that are technically qualified in protection, conservation, or management
of wild fauna and flora are permitted by CITES (under Article XI, Paragraph
7) to apply to become an observer at the CoP. 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.
Individuals that are not affiliated with an NGO do not qualify for
approval as observers.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>An NGO may apply for observer
status in one of three ways:</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">1. International NGOs with offices
in more than one country should apply to the CITES Secretariat at the following
address: </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">CITES Secretariat</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">International Environment House</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Chemin des Anémones</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">CH-1219 Châtelaine-Geneva</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Switzerland</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">tel: (+4122) 917-8139</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">fax: (+4122) 797-3417</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">E-mail: cites@unep.ch</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">2. NGOs based in a country other
than the United States should apply to the CITES Management Authority of
that country.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">3. NGOs based in the United States
should apply to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management
Authority (DMA), at the address below or e-mail the request to <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><u>managementauthority@fws.gov</u></font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Division of Management Authority</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 700</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Arlington, VA 22203</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>>The USFWS maintains a number
of weblinks concerning CITES Observers at: http://www.fws.gov/international/cites/cites.html</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">THE SPECIES...</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>><i>Under CITES, species
may be listed on one of 3 appendices, each</i></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">conferring a different level of
regulation, with the most stringent</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">controls for Appendix I species.
Species listed on Appendix I are</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">threatened with extinction and
trade is permitted only under strict</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">circumstances. Species listed
on Appendix II are impacted by trade at a</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">level that requires monitoring
in order to avoid threats to extinction.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Appendix III listings essentially
provides a monitoring system that allows</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">countries to enlist assistance
of international trading partners to better</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">understand the level of trade in
those species. For more information on</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">the CITES appendices, see: <<u>http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/how.shtml</u>>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>><i>Permits are required
for species that are listed on any of the three</i></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">CITES appendices. For more
on permits, see: <<u>http://www.fws.gov/permits/</u>>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">LISTED SPECIES…</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>><i>Current totals for U.S.
native species listed on CITES are: 654 plants</i></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">and 832 animals. Several
U.S.-native medicinal plants are listed on CITES,</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">including goldenseal and American
ginseng. To find out more about these</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">species, go to the CITES-listed
species database at:</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><u>http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html</u></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">THE CITES SPECIES DABTABASE…</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">You can search the database two
ways:</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">To look just at the species native
to the United States:</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> From the CITES
species website: </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><u>http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html</u></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> Under the
column "Search by country", there is a pull-down menu.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
Select United States.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
Click on "Go"</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> You will see
a tabular summary of the number of listed animals and plants native to
the United States.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
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.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">To search by species name:</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> Start at the
main CITES species website: </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><<u>http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html</u>>.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> Under the
"Search by name" column, select "Genus."</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> Type in the
genus of the native plant of interest.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
Hit enter.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
Click on "Display Results" at the bottom half of the screen.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> You'll see
a list of all species in the genus of interest.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
Click on the species of interest.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
Click on any of the tabs above the species entry to get more</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">information on the species.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">MORE ABOUT CITES…</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>><i>CITES World - biennial
newsletter of CITES. You can view issues dating</i></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">back to 1999 at: <<u>http://www.cites.org/eng/news/newsletter.shtml</u>>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Highlights from previous issues
that may be of interest to you:</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> Issue 16 (Dec
2005) - U.S. procedures for handling confiscated</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> species</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> Issue 15 (July
2005) - U.S. and the Lacey Act</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> Issue 14 (Dec
2004) - Accessing CITES trade data</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">You can now subscribe to the "CITES
World" newsletter on-line. To receive the newsletter by email,
please visit <<u>http://www.cites.org/eng/news/world/subscribe.php</u>>and
fill in the request form. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">>><i>Endangered Species Bulletin
- The September 2005 issues of the Endangered</i></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Species bulletin focused wholly
on CITES. You can view this issue at: </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><<u>http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esb/2005/ESB09-05.pdf</u>>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">While supplies last! I have
copies of this issue that I am happy to mail to you. If you would
like copies of this issue, please e-mail your name and address to: <<u>Patricia_DeAngelis@fws.gov</u>>.
</font>
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