Highlights and images for 1 October 2018

Summary

Delegates gather for the start of CITES SC 70

On Monday, Dmitry Kobylkin, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Russian Federation, welcomed participants to the 70th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC) of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Sochi, noting, inter alia, the Russian Federation’s efforts in expanding protection of special habitats for polar bears, tigers and other species. SC Chair Carolina Caceres noted the packed agenda, emphasizing optimism in considering the many detailed and technical documents in a timely manner. She highlighted the opportunity she had to review candidates for the CITES Secretary-General position and noted that the decision will be made by the UN Secretary-General. She also noted that for the first time the SC would have two evening sessions. The SC also discussed:

financial matters, recognizing that the core trust fund is on track to deliver within approved budgets, but noted the delay of parties in paying annual contributions, emphasizing that this will have a negative impact on the Secretariat’s ability to fund daily operations;
Lao PDR’s progress in the compliance with the Convention and a recommendation to “keep the momentum” by suspending commercial trade in specimens of the genus Dalbergia spp. until Lao PDR makes scientifically based non-detriment findings for trade in the relevant species; and
the National Ivory Action Plans (NIAPs) process.

Several working groups were struck, including on Rules of Procedure for the CoP, NIAPs, and Purpose Codes.

IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from the 70th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee.

Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth

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Opening and Morning Plenaryhttps://enb.iisd.org/attribution-guidelines

View of the dais during the opening session

Dmitry Kobylkin, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Russian Federation

Carolina Caceres, Standing Committee (SC) Chair, Canada

Delegates during the opening session

Zhongze Wu, China

Christine Dawson, US

Sevvandi Jayakody, Sri Lanka

Øystein Størkersen, Norway

Mamadou Alpha Kane, UNEP

Paul Murphy, Australia, raises his placard to speak

Abba Sonko, Senegal

João Loureiro, Portugal

Patrick Omondi, Kenya

Juan Carlos Guzmán and Jessica Maria Gálvez-Durand Besnard, Peru

Afternoon Plenary

View of the room during the afternoon session

Tadashi Sato, Japan

Levente Kőrösi, Hungary

Debbie Banks, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Investigation Agency UK (EIA-UK) and Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

Sousath Saya Koummane, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Sarah Bagnall, New Zealand

Parties raise their placards to join various working groups

Bill Clark, Israel

Samaila Sahailou, Niger

A delegate from the EU

Paul De Ornellas, speaking on behalf of the Zoological Society of London, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), EIA-UK, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)