Daily report for 13 October 2004

Committee I convened to consider Appendices proposals, bigleaf mahogany, captive breeding and artificial propagation. Plenary met to consider, inter alia, resolutions and decisions.

COMMITTEE I

PROPOSALS TO AMEND APPENDICES: Agarwood: Indonesia’s proposal to include Aquilaria spp. and Gyrinops spp. in Appendix II (Prop.49) was adopted following a vote, with an annotation #1, specifying exemptions designating parts and derivatives (72 in favor, 9 against and 23 abstentions).

Corals: SWITZERLAND withdrew its proposal to exclude fossil corals from CITES provisions (Prop.36). Following a vote, delegates adopted EU and UK suggestions in lieu of the proposal.

BIGLEAF MAHOGANY WORKING GROUP: Based on the working group’s outcome, delegates adopted draft decisions on, inter alia, ensuring presence of representatives at meetings, and information sharing through regional workshops, capacity-building programmes, exchange of experiences and identification of financial resources (Com.I.4).

CAPTIVE BREEDING OPERATIONS: Delegates adopted proposed revisions to Res. Conf. 12.10 (Operations that breed Appendix I animal species for commercial purposes) (Com.I.8). The EU objected to the proposed revisions to Res. Conf. 12.10 and Res. Conf. 10.16 on animals bred in captivity (Doc.16 (Rev.1) Annexes 5a and 5b), stating that the current registration system is burdensome. The proposal was withdrawn.

ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION: Delegates approved revisions to Res. Conf. 11.11 (Regulation of trade in plants) (Com.I.10), and decisions regarding artificially propagated plants (Com.I.9), requesting, inter alia, the PC to monitor effects of the revised definition of “artificially propagated” on Appendix I species and report to COP-14. SWITZERLAND withdrew its proposal on including species in Appendix III (Doc.61).

TRANSPORT OF LIVE SPECIMENS: Noting redundancy with the document on transport of live specimens (Doc.21), AC Chair Althaus withdrew the AC proposal on the transport of live animals (Doc 9.1.1).

PLENARY

ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Delegates elected new regional and alternate members for the SC, AC, PC and NC.

BUDGET: Delegates adopted the financial reports for 2002-2003, estimated expenditures for 2004-2005 and a document on external funding (Com.II.23) by consensus. Following a motion by Argentina, the budget for 2006-2008 was reopened. ARGENTINA proposed requesting the SC to collect arrears through innovative strategies that would help countries pay their contributions and, supported by PC Chair Clemente, AC Chair Althaus and BRAZIL, avoiding reducing AC and PC meetings by saving in other areas. The EU and the UK expressed support for a moderate increase in contributions, while MEXICO opposed. MALI highlighted that savings regarding documentation prevent developing countries’ to effectively participate in meetings. KENYA proposed increasing contributions by 3% to maintain documentation costs and holding three AC and PC meetings in different locations. Delegates approved Argentina’s proposal by consensus and Kenya’s proposal with a vote of 89 in favor, 17 against and 19 abstentions. The decision on the budget was then adopted by consensus. The US, MEXICO, JAPAN, NAMIBIA, the RUSSIAN FEDERATION, BRAZIL, DOMINICA and INDIA recorded their opposition to an increase in contributions.

STRATEGIC VISION: On the Strategic Vision for the Convention (Doc.10), PC Chair Clemente presented the PC’s recommendations on a Master’s course, for which many delegates expressed support. CANADA and the US proposed inviting input for the Strategic Plan Working Group from relevant intergovernmental organizations, particularly regarding possible synergies. The EU said the revised strategic vision should contribute to the WSSD 2010 target to significantly reduce biodiversity loss, including through improved CITES-CBD synergy. The US and NEW ZEALAND preferred that the SC consider improved CITES-CBD synergy. The BAHAMAS requested a reference to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) representation in the Working Group. Delegates adopted the decision by consensus with the proposed amendments, excluding the reference to improving CITES-CBD synergy.

REVIEW OF PERMANENT COMMITTEES: Delegates adopted decisions on the review of permanent committees (Com.II.20), standard nomenclature and operation of the NC (Com.II.21), and establishment of the NC (Com.II.25).

COOPERATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS: CITES-CBD: Greater synergy: Delegates adopted a decision on achieving greater CITES-CBD synergy (Com.II.17).

Sustainable use: Delegates adopted a decision on incorporating the Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines on Sustainable Use (Com.II.24). Stressing the voluntary nature of the Principles, NEW ZEALAND and the US recorded their concern about incorporating them into CITES work without prior study.

IWC: Delegates did not adopt draft resolutions on CITES-listing of whale stocks and the IWC (Doc.12.2).

CITES-CCAMLR: The proposal on CITES-CBD cooperation was not adopted (Doc.12.3).

CITES-FAO: Delegates noted the SC Chair report (Doc.7.1), and decided to extend the validity of Decision 12.7 (MoU with FAO).

CONVENTION STATEMENTS: RAMSAR, CMS and GLOBAL TIGER FORUM addressed the Plenary.

ECONOMIC INCENTIVES AND TRADE POLICY: Delegates adopted four decisions on national trade policy reviews and further work on economic incentives (Doc.13 and Com.II.7).

FINANCING OF CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TRADE: Delegates took note of the Secretariat’s report (Doc.14).

AFRICAN ELEPHANT DIALOGUE MEETING: Delegates took note of the meeting’s report (Doc.15).

INTERPRETATION AND IMPLEMENTATION: Review of resolutions: Delegates adopted five revised resolutions: Res. Conf. 9.21 (Quotas for Appendix I species); Res. Conf. 11.21 (Annotations in Appendices I and II) (Doc.16 (Rev.1)); Res. Conf. 4.6 (Submission of documents) (Com.II.5); Res. Conf. 5.11 on definition of pre-Convention specimens (Com.II.14); and consolidation of Res. Conf. 10.6 and Res. Conf. 12.9 on household effects (Com.II.8).

Review of decisions: Delegates agreed to incorporate some decisions into resolutions (Com.II.9). All decisions proposed for deletion (Doc.17) were deleted except Decisions 9.38 (Trade in plants), 12.79 (Museum and herbarium specimens) and 12.7 (CITES-FAO MoU). Delegates also deleted decisions proposed by the AC and PC Chairs (Doc.9.1.1 and 9.2.1).

Reporting requirements: Delegates adopted decisions on reporting requirements found in the first, second and fourth decisions of Doc.18 and in Com.II.Rep.6.

APPENDIX I SPECIES SUBJECT TO EXPORT QUOTAS: Increased leopard export quotas for Namibia (Doc.19.1) and for South Africa (Doc.19.2) were adopted. Following the rejection of a motion by Chad to reopen the debate on the black rhinoceros, a decision on export quotas for Namibia and South Africa was adopted (Com.I.2).

TRADE IN VICUÑA CLOTH: Delegates adopted a revision to Res. Conf. 11.6 as amended (Doc.20).

TRANSPORT OF LIVE SPECIMENS: The proposal (Doc.21) was withdrawn.

GENERAL COMPLIANCE ISSUES: Compliance: Delegates adopted decisions on national laws for implementing the Convention (Com.II.11).

Enforcement matters: Delegates adopted decisions on enforcement matters (Com.II.10 and Com.II.22).

Compliance and enforcement: Delegates adopted a revision of Res. Conf. 11.3 (Compliance and enforcement) (Com.II.12).

Guidelines on compliance: Delegates took note of a document on guidelines on compliance with the Convention (Doc.25).

SPECIES TRADE AND CONSERVATION ISSUES: Great apes: Delegates adopted a resolution on conservation of, and trade in, great apes (Com.II.27).

Bears: Delegates took note of the document on conservation of, and trade in, bears (Doc.27).

Asian big cats: Delegates adopted a resolution on conservation of, and trade in, Asian big cats (Com.II.Rep.8).

Elephants: Delegates adopted the action plan for the control of trade in African ivory (Doc.29.1), and the reports of ETIS (Doc.29.2) and MIKE (Doc.29.3). Proposed revisions to the resolution on illegal ivory trade and control of internal markets were rejected, as were related proposed decisions (Doc.29.4). A proposal on conditions for the export of registered stocks of ivory was withdrawn (Doc.29.5), and delegates took note of the document on ivory stocks in Burundi (Doc.29.6).

Rhinoceros: Delegates adopted decisions on information related to rhinoceros (Com.I.3).

Tibetan antelope: Delegates adopted a revision to Res. Conf. 11.8 on conservation of, and trade in, Tibetan antelope (Com.II.Rep.8).

Saiga antelope: Delegates adopted decisions from the Saiga tatarica working group (Com.I.6).

Tortoises and freshwater turtles: Delegates adopted the revision of Res. Conf. 11.9 and decisions on conservation of, and trade in, tortoises and freshwater turtles (Com.I.5).

Hawksbill turtle: Delegates adopted decisions on the conservation of hawksbill turtles (Com.I.1).

Sharks: Delegates adopted decisions from the shark working group (Com.I.7).

Sea cucumbers: Delegates adopted decisions on conservation and sustainable use of sea cucumbers (Doc.37.1) and on implementation of Decision 12.60 (Sea cucumbers) (Doc.37.2).

Stony corals: Delegates noted the withdrawal of the document on trade in stony corals (Doc.38).

Bigleaf Mahogany Working Group: Delegates adopted the draft decisions (Com.I.4). 

Dissostichus species: Delegates noted the report (Doc.36 (Rev.1)).

Review of Significant Trade: Delegates adopted PC and AC recommendations on terms of reference for RST evaluation (Doc.40).

TRADE CONTROL AND MARKING ISSUES: Introduction from the sea: Delegates adopted two draft decisions (Com.II.15). ICELAND proposed, and delegates voted against, reopening the debate.

Commercial trade in Appendix I species: Delegates adopted the decision (Com.II.Rep.11).

Management of annual export quotas: Delegates deleted Decisions 12.17 and 12.18 on the Export Quota Working Group, renewed Decisions 12.90 to 12.93 on national export quotas for Appendix II species, and extended the validity of Decision 12.72 on annual export quotas. A new decision was adopted (Com.II.29).

Use of CITES certificates with ATA or TIR carnets: Delegates adopted revisions to Res. Conf. 9.7 (Transit and transhipment) and 12.3 (Permits and certificates) (Doc.44).

Electronic permitting systems: Delegates adopted a resolution on electronic permitting systems for CITES specimens (Com.II.Rep.14).

Retrospective issuance of permits: Delegates adopted revisions to Res. Conf. 12.3 (Permits and certificates) (Com.II.28).

Source code ‘R’: Delegates noted withdrawal of a proposal on a definition of the source code ‘R’ for ranched specimens (Doc.47).

Use of marks: Delegates noted withdrawal of the proposal (Doc.48).

Production systems: Delegates adopted a resolution on production systems (Com.II.Rep.12). 

Plant specimens subject to exemptions: Delegates adopted revisions to Res. Conf. 11.11 (Regulation of trade in plants) and 12.3 (Permits and certificates) (Com.II.26).

Definition of ‘artificially propagated’: Delegates adopted revisions to Res. Conf. 11.11 (Com.I.10), and decisions regarding artificially propagated plants (Com.I.9). Decisions referred by the PC on Aquilaria spp. and Harpagophytum spp. were also adopted (Doc.9.2.1).

Definition of plywood: Delegates adopted a revision to Res. Conf. 10.13 on timber species (Doc.52).

Disposal of illegal specimens: Delegates adopted a revision to Res. Conf. 11.3 on disposal of illegal specimens (Com.II.Rep.13).

Identification manual: Delegates noted the Secretariat’s report on the status of production of identification manuals (Doc.54).

EXEMPTIONS AND SPECIAL TRADE PROVISIONS: Personal and household effects: Delegates adopted a revision to Res. Conf. 12.9 (Com.II.Rep.13) and draft decisions on clams (Com.II.18) and hippocampus spp. (Doc.55.3).

Captive breeding: Delegates adopted revisions to Res. Conf. 12.10 on captive breeding (Com.I.8). The US suggested the SC look at a related decision on commercial trade in Appendix-I species to determine whether the decision is redundant. No applications to register operations were submitted.

IN SITU CONSERVATION AND EX SITU BREEDING: Delegates adopted a decision (Com.II.1) and a resolution (Com.II.13 as amended). BRAZIL said the CBD is the competent forum to deal with access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing issues.

IN THE CORRIDORS

As delegates wrapped up remaining Committee agenda items and reconvened in Plenary, there was a collective sigh of relief. Many delegates said the party is not over yet, pointing at several issues, particularly marine-related proposals, which may be reopened. Some believed that there was little chance that any proposal would be overturned, while others were busy working to make sure the initial results would stick.