Summary
On Monday, 24 July, PC Chair Adrianne Sinclair re-convened the 23rd meeting of the Plants Committee (PC23).
In the morning, delegates considered strategic planning for 2016-2019 (CoP17-CoP18), Review of Significant Trade (RST) in specimens of Appendix-II species, timber identification, African tree species, and neotropical tree species. In considering the RST, PC Chair Sinclair underscored the importance of these reviews, calling them “core CITES business.”
After lunch, delegates considered the periodic review of the appendices, rosewood timber species, standard nomenclature, annotations for Appendix II orchids, East African sandalwood, and definition of the term “artificially propagated.”
In discussions, among other things, delegates considered questions of the PC mandate, with some divergent views expressed on discussing implementation issues within the scientific body. Multiple agenda items raised questions of definitions and interpretation of terms, with most discussions deferred to working groups for more detailed assessment. The balance of conservation and trade was highlighted by several participants.
The PC established or re-established working groups for all the issues discussed during the day. For some, lengthy discussions took place on the scope of work of the groups, with several participants recalling the limited time and resources of the PC. The working group on strategic planning met over lunch, and the remainder of working groups will meet on Tuesday, 25 July or Wednesday, 26 July. An existing ad hoc working group on annotations, aimed at informing upcoming Standing Committee discussions, will also convene during the meeting.
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from the 29th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee, Joint Meeting of the CITES Animals and Plants Committees, and 23rd Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee. The summary and analysis is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Sean Wu
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Morning Plenary
PC Chair Adrianne Sinclair, Canada, in discussions with Karen Gaynor, CITES Secretariat
A bird's view of the morning plenary
Tendro Radanielina, Madagascar
Pablo Sinovas, UNEP-WCMC
Martin Rose, Austria, speaking with Frans Arus, Belgium
Noel McGough, CITES Nomenclature Specialist
Irma Betty Romero Rodriguez, Peru
César Beltetón and Vera Teresinha Rauber Coradin, PC representatives for Central and South America and the Caribbean, in discussions
Michael McGuffin, American Herbal Products Association
Cindy Squires, International Wood Products Association
Delegates during the morning plenary
Joeni Setijo Rahajoe and Byoung Yoon Lee, PC representatives for Asia
Afternoon Plenary
Noel McGough, CITES Nomenclature Specialist, chatting with PC Chair Adrianne Sinclair, Canada; Tom De Meulenaer and Karen Gaynor, CITES Secretariat, before the afternoon plenary
Hesiquio Benítez Díaz, Mexico
César Beltetón, PC representative for Central and South America and the Caribbean
María Elena Sánchez Saldaña, Species Survival Network
Charles Barber, World Resources Institute
Ali Mahamane and Aurélie Flore Koumba Pambo, PC representatives for Africa
Heather Noonan, League of American Orchestras
David Harter, Germany
Paulo Carmo, PC representative for Europe
Observers and parties raising their plates to show their interest in joining a working group
Junya Nakano, Japan
John Bennett, International Society of Violin and Bow Makers
Hélène Perier, EU
Around the Venue
