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The eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP-11) to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
convened from 10-20 April 2000, at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya,
drawing together approximately 2100 participants representing governments,
NGOs, and IGOs. Delegates at COP-11 considered 62 proposals to amend Appendices
I and II as well as over 40 resolutions on a wide range of topics, including:
the evolution of the Convention; financial matters, including the budget
for 2001-2002 and the Medium-term Plan for 2001-2005; conservation of
and trade in tigers, elephants, rhinoceros, and Tibetan Antelopes; and
trade in bears, freshwater turtles and tortoises, seahorse, and traditional
medicines.
Most delegates were satisfied with the outcome of COP-11 and championed
the compromise reached on African Elephants as the triumph of COP-11.
The rejection of proposals to downlist populations of Gray and Minke Whales
and the Hawksbill Turtle was also characterized as a success by many,
but this view was not unanimous reflecting the underlying conflicts
within CITES between issues related to conservation and trade.
Final
Plenary: CITES-11 draws to a close
On the last
day of CITES COP-11, delegates met in an extended morning Plenary
to complete adoption of the work of Committee I. Discussion was
re-opened on the down-listing of the Minke Whale (Prop. 11.18),
Hawksbill Turtles (Prop. 11.41), and the Basking Shark (Prop.
11.49). All three proposals were rejected once again by secret
ballot (results below). After words of thanks and farewells from
several speakers, including Klaus Topfer, Executive Director of
UNEP, and Willem Wijnstekers, CITES Secretary-General, Chair Asadi
closed COP-11 at 1 pm.
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NORWAY called to reopen the debate on the Minke Whale (Prop. 11.18)
and amended its initial proposal to limit trade to products from animals
taken within national jurisdiction with countries where DNA-based
identification systems for trade control are implemented. Several
delegations opposed, noting that downlisting would signal the resumption
of commercial whaling. |
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CUBA reopened debate on its proposal on Hawksbill Turtles (Prop. 11.41)
with an amendment stating that trade would not take place until the
control systems in Japan had been reviewed by the CITES Standing Committee.
Costa Rica, among others, opposed, noting that the turtle is a migratory
species and that a one-off sale could encourage other countries to
stockpile shells. |
The UK reopened debate on the proposal on the Basking Shark (Prop.
11.49), suggesting a 12 months implementation delay to enable the
identification and distribution of material. He added that the UK
had developed methodology for DNA testing for differentiation of sharks
from other similar species. Objecting, Norway said CITES lacks the
competence or rules to expand its tasks in this area, which belongs
to the FAO. |
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Archive of Daily Reports
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ENB
(English)
Day |
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TXT |
Thu
20 |
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Wed19 |
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Tue
18 |
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Mon
17 |
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Sat
15 |
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Fri
14 |
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Thu
13 |
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Wed12 |
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Tue11 |
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Mon
10 |
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BNT
(Français)
Jour |
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Jeu
20 |
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Mer
19 |
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Mar
18 |
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Lun
17 |
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Sam
15 |
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Ven
14 |
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Jeu
13 |
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Mer
12 |
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Mar
11 |
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Lun
10 |
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