<br><font size=2 face="Arial">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. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">This e-mail has two parts:</font>
<br>
<ul>
<li><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>Announcement and Request for input regarding
U.S. Submissions to the next CoP</b></font></ul>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">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.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>Comments and information are welcome!
</b>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. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Deadline for comments: September 11,
2009.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">The full notice is available on our website.
<b>Below I have listed items that relate specifically to plants species.
</b></font>
<br>
<ul>
<li><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>CITES in a nutshell</b></font></ul>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">For an excellent overview of CITES (if I
don't say so myself!), <b>see "CITES in a nutshell," below.</b></font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>Stay tuned! </b>I will also post
more information when the CoP15 agenda becomes available.</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
Thank you!</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">-Patricia</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.<br>
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority<br>
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group<br>
US Fish & Wildlife Service</font><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><br>
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110<br>
Arlington, VA 22203<br>
703-358-1708 x1753<br>
FAX: 703-358-2276<br>
Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants.<br>
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal><br>
</font>
<div align=center>
<br><font size=3>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </font></div>
<br>
<div align=center>
<br><font size=5 face="Arial"><b>Announcement and Request for input regarding
U.S. Submissions to the next CoP</b></font></div>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<table border=4 width=100%>
<tr valign=top>
<td width=100% bgcolor=white><font size=2 face="Arial">On </font><a href="http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/E9-16410.pdf"><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>July
13, 2009</u></font></a><font size=2 face="Arial">, 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 </font><a href="http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/Notice2-possible US submissions WEB.pdf"><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>extended
version</u></font></a><font size=2 face="Arial"> 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</font></table>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><b>Summary</b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/E9-16410.pdf</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><b>"Extended Version"</b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/Notice2-possible%20US%20submissions%20WEB.pdf</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><b>Items pertaining to Plants (along
with the current U.S. position)</b></font>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><b>I.
Recommendations for Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items for the United
States To Consider Submitting for CoP15 </b></font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><b>A. What resolutions, decisions,
and agenda items is the United States <u>likely to submit</u> for consideration
at CoP15? </b></font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">2. Appendix-III timber listings
annotated to include only the national populations of the listing countries
</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><b>B. On what resolutions, decisions,
and agenda items is the United States <u>still undecided</u>, pending additional
information and consultations? </b></font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">1. Impacts of climate change on
CITES-listed species </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><b>C. What resolutions, decisions,
and agenda items is the United States <u>not likely to submit</u> for consideration
at CoP15, unless we receive significant additional information? </b></font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">1. Resolution on units used on
CITES permits and in CITES Annual Reports </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">4. Scientific basis for making
non-detriment findings </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><b>II. Recommendations for Species
Proposals for the United States To Consider Submitting for CoP15 </b></font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><b>A. What species proposals is
the United States <u>likely to submit</u> for consideration at CoP15? </b></font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">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 </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><b>B. On what species proposals
is the United States <u>still undecided</u>, pending additional information
and consultations? </b></font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">1. Cedars (<i>Cedrela </i>spp.)
– Inclusion in Appendix II</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman">2. Cliff spurge (<i>Euphorbia misera</i>)
– Removal from Appendix II </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><b>C. What species proposals is
the United States <u>not likely</u> to submit for consideration at CoP15,
unless we receive significant additional information? </b> </font><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><br>
</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif"> </font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">No
submissions for plants.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><b>DATES: </b>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.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><b>ADDRESSES: </b>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: <i>CoP15@fws.gov</i>,
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: <i>scientificauthority@fws.gov</i>, or via fax at: 703–358–2276.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><b>FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
</b>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: <i>CoP15@fws.gov</i>. For
information pertaining to species proposals contact: Rosemarie Gnam, Chief,
Division of Scientific Authority, phone 703–358– 1708, fax 703–358–2276,
e-mail: <i>scientificauthority@fws.gov</i>.</font>
<br>
<div align=center>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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* * *<br>
<br>
</font><font size=5 face="Arial"><b>CITES in a nutshell*</b></font></div>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
<b><i>WHAT IS CITES?</i></b><i><br>
</i>>>CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species that entered into force in 1975.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">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: <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.cites.org</u></font><font size=3 face="Arial">>.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
<b><i>WHAT ABOUT THE PARTIES...</i></b><i><br>
</i>>>There are currently 175 Parties (member countries ) to CITES.
For a list of the Parties, see: <</font><a href=http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/parties/index.shtml><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.cites.org/eng/disc/parties/index.shtml</u></font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">>.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
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: <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.fws.gov/international/DMA_DSA/CITES/CITES_home.html</u></font><font size=3 face="Arial">>.<br>
<br>
The CITES world is divided into six regions: Africa, Asia, Central and
South America and the Caribbean, Europe, North American, and Oceania. The<br>
United States is part of the North American Region, which also includes
Canada and Mexico. See <</font><a href=http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/AC_PC.shtml#dir><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.cites.org/eng/disc/AC_PC.shtml#dir</u></font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">>.<br>
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b><i>WHAT ABOUT THE MEETINGS...</i></b><i><br>
</i>>>CITES convenes several international meetings in order to execute
the treaty, including:</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
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. <b>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</b>.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">see <</font><a href=http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/index.shtml.><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.cites.org/eng/cop/index.shtml</u></font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">><br>
<br>
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.
<b>The last PC, PC18, was held in March 2009. Proceedings or
summary records are available online going back to 1999</b>.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">see <</font><a href=http://www.cites.org/eng/com/PC/member.shtml><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.cites.org/eng/com/PC/member.shtml</u></font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">><br>
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">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. <b>The last AC, AC24, was held in April 2009. Proceedings
or summary records are available online going back to 1995</b>.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">see: <</font><a href=http://www.cites.org/eng/com/AC/member.shtml><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.cites.org/eng/com/AC/member.shtml</u></font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">><br>
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">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. <b>The last
SC, SC58, was held in July 2009. Proceedings or summary records are
available online going back to 1992</b>.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">see: <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>w</u></font><a href=http://www.cites.org/eng/com/SC/member.shtml><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>ww.cites.org/eng/com/SC/member.shtml</u></font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">><br>
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b><i>CAN I ATTEND THESE MEETINGS?</i></b></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">>>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. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">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: <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial">www.fws.gov/international/DMA_DSA/CITES/pdf/ob.pdf</font><font size=3 face="Arial">>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b><i>WHAT SPECIES ARE REGULATED BY CITES?</i></b><i><br>
</i>>>Under CITES, species may be listed on one of 3 appendices,
each conferring a different level of regulation, with the most stringent<br>
controls for Appendix I species. For more on the CITES appendices,
see: <</font><a href=http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/how.shtml><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.cites.org/eng/disc/how.shtml</u></font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">>.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Species listed on Appendix I are threatened
with extinction and trade is permitted only under strict circumstances.
</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">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: </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial">www.fws.gov/international/DMA_DSA/CITES/pdf/appIIsustainableuse.pdf</font><font size=3 face="Arial">>.
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
Appendix III listings essentially provides a monitoring system that allows
countries to enlist assistance of international trading partners to better<br>
understand the level of trade in those species. For more information,
see: <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial">www.fws.gov/international/DMA_DSA/CITES/pdf/apndxiii.pdf</font><font size=3 face="Arial">>
and how the FWS implements Appendix III, see: <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial">www.fws.gov/international/DMA_DSA/CITES/Appendix_III/overview.html</font><font size=3 face="Arial">></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b><i>HOW MANY CITES-SPECIES ARE THERE?</i></b><i><br>
</i>>>There are more than 5,000 animal species and 29,000 plant species
listed in the CITES Appendices; see <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial">www.cites.org/eng/disc/species.shtml</font><font size=3 face="Arial">></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">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<i>.</i></font><font size=3><br>
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b><i>HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT IS LISTED IN
THE APPENDICES TO CITES?</i></b><i><br>
</i>>>To find out more about CITES-listed species, you can search
the CITES database by species name or by country.</font><font size=3> <br>
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">To search by name (scientific name or common
name):</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
Start at the CITES species database page: <</font><a href=http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html</u></font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">>.<br>
Under the "Search by name" column, select "Genus."<br>
Type the Genus of the plant of interest and hit enter.</font><font size=3>
</font><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
You have another
opportunity to select information for only one country. </font><font size=3>
</font><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
To see information on all countries, click
on "Display Results" at the bottom of the screen.<br>
You'll see a list of
all species in the genus of interest.<br>
Click on the species of interest.<br>
Click on any of the tabs above the species entry to get
more information on the species.</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
To search by country (i.e. for species that are native to the United States):</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
Start at the CITES species database page: <</font><a href=http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html</u></font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">>.</font><font size=3>
</font><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
Under the column "Search by country", there is
a pull-down menu.<br>
Select United States and click on "Go"<br>
You will see a tabular summary of the number of listed
animals and plants native to the United States.<br>
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.<br>
Click on any species entry to see information for
that species.</font><font size=3> </font><font size=3 face="Arial"><br>
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b><i>HOW ARE LISTED SPECIES REGULATED?</i></b></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">>>Permits are required for species
that are listed on any of the three CITES appendices. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">To find out whether you need a permit and
how to get it, go to: <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial">www.fws.gov/permits/instructions/ObtainPermit.shtml</font><font size=3 face="Arial">></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">For more on all the permits handled by the
USFWS, see: <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial">www.fws.gov/permits/overview/overview.shtml</font><font size=3 face="Arial">></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b><i>HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT CITES?</i></b></font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">>>CITES World - biennial newsletter
of CITES. You can view issues dating back to 1999, at: <</font><a href=http://www.cites.org/eng/news/newsletter.shtml><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.cites.org/eng/news/newsletter.shtml</u></font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">>.<br>
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Highlights from previous issues that may
be of interest to you:<br>
Issue 16 (Dec 2005) - U.S. procedures for handling confiscated
species<br>
Issue 15 (July 2005) - U.S. and the Lacey Act<br>
Issue 14 (Dec 2004) - Accessing CITES trade data<br>
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">>>Endangered Species Bulletin - USFWS
quarterly newsletter with archives going back to 1999, at: <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial">www.fws.gov/Endangered/bulletin.html</font><font size=3 face="Arial">></font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">September 2005 - focused wholly on CITES.
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">View this issue at: <</font><a href="http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esb/2005/ESB09-05.pdf"><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.fws.gov/endangered/esb/2005/ESB09-05.pdf</u></font></a><font size=3 face="Arial">>.
</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Obtain copies of this issue by emailing me
at: <</font><font size=3 color=blue face="Arial"><u>Patricia_DeAngelis@fws.gov</u></font><font size=3 face="Arial">>
& put : <i>"2005 Endangered Species Bulletin"</i> 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!</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">*"CITES in a nutshell" was compiled
by Patricia De Angelis - Division of Scientific Authority - International
Affairs Program - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial">Updated July 2009</font>
<br>
<br>