28th Meeting of the Animals Committee (AC28) of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

On Tuesday, AC28 participants convened for a full day of meetings in working groups. In the morning, the working group on Review of Significant Trade discussed the draft revised Resolution Conf. 12.8 (Rev. CoP13) on review of significant trade in specimens of Appendix-II species. In the afternoon, the same group discussed the status of hippopotamus in Cameroon and crab-eating macaques in Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as 20 taxa selected by the AC, including the polar bear and giant pangolin.

The working group on how to address extinct species currently on the CITES Appendices proposed a recommendation to be considered by the Plants and Standing Committees. The working group on stingrays met to discuss options for the possible inclusion of freshwater stingrays on the CITES Appendices. The working group on sharks discussed Parties’ reports updating on experiences since the CITES listing of shark species. The working group on snakes discussed, among other issues, listing under the Appendices snake species that are most affected by international trade.

In the evening, participants traveled to Jerusalem for a tour of the city and a reception hosted by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Israel Nature and Parks Authority.