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Earth Negotiations Bulletin
Summary Report
Monday, 13 July 2009
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Climate Change Policy & Practice
 
Fifty-eighth meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Standing Committee (SC58)

6-10 July 2009 | Geneva, Switzerland

Highlights for Wednesday, 8 July 2009
The towers of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Geneva, viewed from Lac Léman.
The 58th Session of the Standing Committee (SC58) of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) entered its third day of deliberations in Geneva, Switzerland. In plenary discussions throughout the day, the SC addressed, inter alia: financial matters; the development of indicators for the Strategic Vision 2008-2013; enforcement matters; introduction from the sea; Purpose-of-Transaction codes on permits and certificates; trade in crocodilian specimens; and elephants.

In the morning, some parties and non-governmental organizations expressed concern that Egypt had not been implementing recommendations to end its illegal trade in great apes. Egypt expressed its full commitment to implementing the recommendations, and noted bilateral talks with Cameroon and Kenya to address the illegal activities. The SC requested that the Secretariat send a strong message to Egypt, calling for fulfillment of all recommendations by CoP15.

Most of the afternoon was spent discussing elephants. Several countries regarded the information presented in documents reviewing the status of the elephant, trade in its specimens and the impact of the legal trade as old, inaccurate and incomplete, and requested that further work on this be conducted. Many in the SC voiced concerns with recent reports of large-scale seizures of illegally traded ivory.  Kenya, on behalf of the African range states, said that the African elephant action plan had been completed and sent to parties for comment.
The Egyptian and Cameroonian Ambassadors noted bilateral talks on enforcement matters involving illegal trade in great apes.
The Chinese delegation stressed that the Standing Committee should be fully consulted on the forthcoming appointment of a new CITES Secretary-General.
Delegates gather to discuss the highlights of the day.
Informal consultations on the Review of Significant Trade.
Related Links
CITES resources
Meeting website and documents
Provisional Annotated Agenda

IISD RS resources
IISD RS Summary and Analysis of the Twenty-fourth meeting of the CITES Animals Committee (AC24), 20-24 April 2009, Geneva, Switzerland (HTML - PDF)
IISD RS Summary and Analysis of the Eighteenth meeting of the CITES Plants Committee (PC18), 17-21 March 2009, Buenos Aires, Argentina (HTML - PDF)
IISD RS Summary and Analysis of SC57, 14-18 July 2008, Geneva, Switzerland (HTML - PDF)
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