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A display showcasing Russia's biodiversity outside the venue The 70th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) reconvened for a marathon session on a rainy day in Rosa Khutor, Russian Federation. In the morning, participants dove into elephant issues. The CITES Secretariat emphasized the need to continue to ban domestic ivory markets, to consider unintended effects of bans, the need to effectively regulate online markets, and enforce existing laws. It also highlighted a drop in the number of ivory seizures in 2017, noting however that the level of poaching remains of concern, especially in central Africa. Several countries reported on national efforts and international collaborations to control trade in elephant specimens. The discussion on Asian Big Cats brought to the fore the emerging illegal trade in jaguar and their parts. Brazil and Peru noted that the Asian demand for tiger parts is driving a trade in jaguar parts, including in Bolivia. The afternoon and evening sessions continued with discussions, among others, on: the African lion, and the SC supporting the announcement by the CMS Secretariat to convene the Second Meeting of Range States for the Joint Convention on Migratory Species/CITES African Carnivores Initiative in November 2018; new resolutions on Strategic Vision and Establishment of Committees; annotations; and engagement with rural communities. 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 For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Morning Session Delegates during the morning session Ha Thi Mai Trang, Viet Nam Carolina Caceres, SC Chair, Canada Manmohan Singh Negi, India Roseline Mandisodza-Chikerema, Zimbabwe Mateus Mutemba, Mozambique Sarah Foster, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Yap Him Hoo, Singapore Kumara Wakjira, Ethiopia Elisante Ombeni Leguma, Tanzania Afternoon Session View of the dais during the afternoon session Elaine Kendall, UK Narcisse Lambert Mbarga, Cameroon Leigh Henry, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Mark Jones, Born Free Foundation Tae-Kwon Noh, Republic of Korea Steven Johnson, International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) Vanesa Tossenberger, Argentina Heather Noonan, League of American Orchestras Susan Lieberman, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Observer delegates raise their placards to join working groups Evening Session Delegates during the evening session Elly Hamunyela, Namibia Levente Kőrösi, Hungary Melissa Blue Sky, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) Lise Jubinville, Canada Around the Venue Delegates in plenary before the start of the meeting Delegates from the EU discuss a document Interviews take place around the venue José Funes and Hesiquio Benítez Díaz, Mexico Delegates between sessions Delegates huddle informally during the meeting Delegates meet informally  

A visitor uses a virtual reality headset to experience some of the environmental diversity of Russia The 70th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) continued addressing its lengthy agenda. Much of the morning was devoted to discussion on introduction from the sea (IFS) of sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) by Japan and whether it has been adversely affected by commercial trade as described within Article 13 of the Convention. The SC sought positions by parties on remedial actions to be taken on technical matters on issuance of IFS certificates by Japan and whether the sei whale is being used for ‘primarily commercial purposes.’ The SC concluded that current IFS certificates for sei whale meat and blubber are being used partly for commercial purposes and are not in conformity with the Convention, and requested Japan take remedial legal actions, stop the departure of research vessels as well as the cessation of IFS certificates until SC71. SC70 then considered the illegal trafficking of ebony and rosewood from Madagascar and concerns that disposal of stockpiles could stimulate further illegal trade. During the lunch break, the Russian Federation hosted a side event on steps taken to conserve tigers, Amur and Persian leopards, and snow leopards. During the remainder of the day, the SC considered: trade in specimens bred in captivity or artificially propagated; and the application of Article XIII to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the implementation of SC recommendations regarding quota management and issuance of export permits; management of trade of African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) and illegal trade; and trade in Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata). 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 For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Morning Plenary View of the dais during the morning plenary Carolina Caceres, SC Chair, Canada Basile van Havre, Canada Hiroshi Matsuura, Japan Valentin Ilyashenko, Russian Federation José Funes, Mexico Joseph Moumbouilou, Congo Ugo Eichler Vercillo, Brazil Sue Fisher, speaking on behalf of Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Born Free Foundation, Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Eurogroup for Animals, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Humane Society International (HSI), Japan Wildlife Conservation Society (JWCS), Japan Tiger and Elephant Fund (JTEF), Pro Wildlife, Species Survival Network (SSN), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDC); and World Animal Protection Klamon Haktouin, Chad, raises his placard to speak Aurélie Flore Koumba Pambo, Gabon Sonja Meintjes, South Africa Noro Vololona Harimisa, Minister of Justice, Madagascar Eugene Lapointe, IWMC World Conservation Trust César Vigil Molina, Honduras Afternoon Plenary View of the dais during the afternoon plenary Zhanqiang Wen, China Adrianne Sinclair, Chair, CITES Plants Committee Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, Malaysia Shereefa Al-Salem, Kuwait Ji Wei, China Wildlife Conservation Association Ronald Orenstein, HSI Augustin Ngumbi Amuri, Democratic Republic of the Congo Mathias Lörtscher, Switzerland Tanya Sanerib, speaking on behalf of the CBD, Lewis and Clark Law School, WCS, WWF and NRDC Jonathan Kolby, US Around the Venue Delegates before the start of the session Nadia Berny, CITES Secretariat, speaks with Carolina Caceres, SC Chair, Canada Mathias Lörtscher, Switzerland, speaks with Sonja Meintjes, South Africa Delegates from Mozambique Delegates from Cameroon Delegates from the EU and Mexico meet informally Delegates speak informally between sessions Delegates from Singapore A photographic display of Russia's environmental diversity  

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 For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page 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) Charles Tumwesigye, Uganda Somkiat Soontornpitakkool, Thailand Observer groups raise their placards to join working groups Evening Welcome Ceremony Delegates attend a welcome ceremony held in the evening Traditional Russian songs are performed Around the Venue Delegates gather in the plenary hall for the start of the meeting Dmitry Kobylkin, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Russian Federation, speaks with Carolina Caceres, SC Chair, Canada Delegates from Chile Delegates review a document Delegates speak informally Carolina Caceres, SC Chair, Canada Materials on display around the venue Photographs of Russian flora decorate the walls of the venue  

The dais during the contact group on PFOA, L-R: Contact group Chair Jean-François Ferry (Canada), Sylvain Bintein (Austria), Valentina Bertato (EU), and Alexander Potrykus (EU) The fourteenth meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC-14) met for its third day on Wednesday, 19 September 2018.Delegates worked in back-to-back contact groups throughout the day, again focusing on the technical work on POPRC-14’s agenda. Participants started the morning with work on the draft risk profile for perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and related compounds, completing their review of the draft risk profile and draft decision by midday.Following these discussions, delegates resumed their work on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and related compounds, working to strengthen the Committee’s recommendation to the Conference of the Parties to list these substances in the Annexes to the Convention.In the evening, participants began work on the process for evaluating the alternatives, continued use, and need for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts, and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF). IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided limited daily web coverage from POPRC-14. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meeting. Delegates during the contact group discussions on PFOA Ajeng Arum Sari, Indonesia Martien Janssen, the Netherlands A view of the room The dais consulting during the contact group on PFHxS, L-R: Rikke Donchil Holmberg (Denmark), Trine Celius (Norway), Peter Dawson (New Zealand), and Christel Moræus Olsen (Norway) The delegation from China Kei Ohno Woodall, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat Ed Cram, Australia POPRC members during the session, L-R: Agus Haryono (Indonesia), Amir Nasser Ahmadi (Iran), Helen Jacobs (Jamaica), Mineo Takatsuki (Japan), Caroline Wamai (Kenya), and Mantoa Makoena Clementina Sekota (Lesotho) Delegates take a water break during the day's proceedings Jianxin Hu, China  

Incoming IWC Chair Andrej Bibič, Slovenia, and IWC Chair Joji Morishita, Japan On Friday, the final day of IWC-67, delegates wrapped up all remaining agenda items under Chair Morishita’s leadership. Delegates voted on Japan’s revised ‘Way Forward’ proposal. To address the fact that the proposal included both a Schedule amendment and resolution, which have different voting thresholds (simple majority for resolutions), Japan proposed revised text establishing that the resolution would only go forward on the condition that the Schedule amendment was adopted by the Commission (requiring a three-fourths majority). The final vote was 27 in favor, 41 opposed, and two abstentions. Statements made after the vote included comments on: support for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, including marine mammals; and the need for the IWC to spend more time striving for consensus and understanding divergent visions. Masaaki Taniai, Japan’s Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, expressed disappointment over the outcome and said Japan will undertake a fundamental reassessment of its position in the IWC, scrutinizing every option. Delegates adopted, without further revision, the reports of the Scientific, Conservation, and Finance and Administration Committees; the Infractions, Budgetary, Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Sub-Committees; and the Whale Killing Methods and Welfare Issues Working Group. The report of the Standing Working Group on Special Permit Programmes was adopted after agreeing to include in the Chair’s summary report a statement reflecting Japan’s opposition to the report and a list of other countries supporting Japan’s position. Delegates elected Robert Suydam (US) as the Scientific Committee Chair (SC) and Alexandre Zerbini (Brazil) as the SC Vice-Chair, with many congratulations extended for outgoing SC Chair Caterina Fortuna. Australia was elected as the new Budgetary Sub-Committee Chair and Switzerland as Vice-Chair. Adding a bit of levity toward the close of the meeting, Haydée Rodriguez Romero, Costa Rica, was the top vote-getter in a contest for the best whale-themed jewelry. The meeting elected a new Bureau, with Andrej Bibič (Slovenia) as IWC Chair and Amadou Diallo (Guinea) as Vice-Chair, and accepted Slovenia’s offer to host IWC-68 in Portorož, Slovenia in 2020. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from IWC67.   Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Plenary Dais during plenary Caterina Fortuna, Italy, outgoing Chair, Scientific Committee Hermano Ribeiro, Brazil Incoming IWC Chair Andrej Bibič, Slovenia Micheni Japhet Ntiba, Kenya Alexandre Zerbini, Brazil Participants from the EU Participants from Latin America Contest Pierre Gallego, Luxembourg Contest winner: whale necklace Participants voting on the whale-themed jewelry contest Haydée Rodriguez Romero, Costa Rica, whale jewelry contest winner Rebecca Lent, IWC Executive Secretary Closing Ceremony Rebecca Lent, IWC Executive Secretary, and IWC Chair Joji Morishita Lorenzo Rojas Bracho, Mexico, Chair, Conservation Committee Andrea Nouak, Austria Arnold Brower Jr, Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission Delegates applauding the leadership of Chair Joji Morishita. Sara Oldfield, Pablo Sinovas, Harriet Gillett, Martin Jankins, and Patricia Cremona, Rapporteurs Around the Venue Richard de Ferranti, IISD RS, Ikuho Miyazawa, IISD RS, IWC Chair Joji Morishita, and Teya Penniman, IISD RS