A document submitted by Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda calls on Parties to pay attention to the illegal trade in cheetahs.
A report by the Working Group on Rhinos recommends that Parties consider, and strengthen, the resolution on the illegal trade in rhinoceros parts and derivatives.
In addition, Denmark on behalf of the EU submits a document on preventing conflicts of interest for members of the Animals and Plants Committee.
22 October 2012: The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has published working documents on: potential conflicts of interest in the Animals and Plants Committee; CITES and livelihoods; cheetah; rhino; and sharks and stingrays. The documents are released in preparation for the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP 16), which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2013.
In the document on conflicts of interest, Denmark, on behalf of the EU, proposes that candidates for membership of the Animals and Plants Committees submit a declaration, disclosing current or past professional, financial or other interests that could call into question their impartiality, objectivity or independence in carrying out their duties as members of the Committee. In the document on CITES and livelihoods, the Chair of the relevant working group prepared a draft resolution and draft decisions, including one directing Parties to facilitate exchange visits between relevant stakeholders from the different ongoing conservation and sustainable use programmes which address issues related to CITES and livelihoods.
A document submitted by Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda calls on Parties to pay attention to the illegal trade in cheetahs, with the Middle East reported to be an important destination for traded cheetahs stemming from the practice of keeping them as pets and of using them for sport hunting. In a draft decision, the proponents suggest the commissioning of an independent study and call for Parties’ collaboration.
A report by the Working Group on Rhinos recommends that Parties consider, and strengthen, the existing text of Resolution 9.14 (Rev CoP15) on the illegal trade in rhinoceros parts and derivatives. Finally, in an Animals Committee report on sharks and stingrays, Parties are encouraged to engage with the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), particularly for shark species listed in the relevant Appendices to CITES and CMS. [CITES Provisional Agenda and Working Documents]