The fourteenth Conference of the Parties (COP-14) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) convened from 3-15 June 2007, in The Hague, the Netherlands.

The meeting achieved a hard-won consensus on the Strategic Vision, which sets out three strategic goals on: compliance and enforcement; securing financial resources; and CITES’ role in the broader international environment agenda. Among other highlights, the meeting agreed that no cetacean species should be subject to periodic review while the International Whaling Commission moratorium is in place, and decided to list slender-horned and Cuvier’s gazelles and slow loris on Appendix I (species endangered due to international trade, trade permitted only in exceptional circumstances), and Brazil wood, sawfish and eel on Appendix II (species that may become endangered if their trade is not regulated). Following the achievement of a landmark regional consensus on ivory trade by the African elephant range states, the meeting amended the annotation on African elephants to allow a one-off sale of ivory from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe with a nine-year resting period for further ivory trade.
Delegates also agreed to additional trade restrictions for Brazilwood, which grows only in Brazil. Under the new provisions, the tree will be listed in CITES’ Appendix II, meaning that trade in the species will be tightly controlled, while trade in finished products will remain exempted. Other timber species, including Spanish cedar and two species of rosewood, did not receive the same protection, but delegates agreed to establish a working group composed of officials from range states to consider alternative ways to protect the trees.
CITES delegates also agreed to a US proposal to draw up an official memorandum of understanding to strengthen the relationship between the convention and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). CITES and the ITTO have worked together to help build the capacity of range states to conduct sustainable timber management.
Link to further information
IISD RS meeting coverage