The 17th meeting of the Plants Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the 23rd meeting of the CITES Animals Committee were held in Geneva, Switzerland from 15-19 and 19-23 April 2008, respectively.

On 19 April, the two Committees held a joint meeting.
The Plants Committee discussed topics including: the review of significant trade (RST) in Appendix II species; the periodic review of plant species included in CITES appendices; timber issues; strategic planning; non-detriment findings (NDFs); transport of live plants; and the definitions of hybrids and cultivars. Delegates agreed to include bigleaf mahogany in the Review of Significant Trade (RST), recommending that the review be limited to parties with implementation problems.
The joint session of the Plants and Animals Committees addressed the revision of the terms of reference of the Committees; cooperation with advisory bodies of other biodiversity-related multilateral agreements; RST in specimens of Appendix II species; an international expert workshop on NDFs; and transport of live animals and plants.
The Animals Committee addressed 21 agenda items, including: the RST in Appendix II species; production systems for specimens of CITES-listed species; conservation and management of sharks; the periodic review of animal species included in the Convention’s appendices; and a proposal to transfer the Mexican population of Crocodylus moreletii from Appendix I to Appendix II.
Discussions will continue within intersessional working groups set up by the Committees, as well as during the next round of meetings scheduled for early 2009, where recommendations will be further developed for consideration at CITES COP 15, to be held in 2010 in Doha, Qatar.
Link to further information
IISD RS coverage of the meetings