Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Governments seeking to amend international wildlife trade rules introduced their proposals yesterday ahead of October's meeting on the U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Bangkok. The 50 proposals include recommendations for expanding trade restrictions to commerically valuable species facing overexploitation and for eliminating curbs on other species that have bounced back in recent years. Australia and Madagascar proposed adding the great white shark, best known as the star of the film Jaws to the CITES list. Fiji, the European Union and the United States are seeking to give further protections to the humphead wrasse, a prized reef fish from the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Asian turtles and tortoises also need CITES attention, governments said. Eight proposals would bring trade of more Asian species, 30 of which are already covered by the convention, under CITES controls.

Other countries are hoping to improve CITES regulations over the trade in high-value timber and tree products. Indonesia is proposing tighter controls for the profitable ramin and agarwood trees while other proposals address the overexploitation of medicinal plants. "The continued interest in how CITES could contribute to the conservation and management of high-value fish and trees reflects growing concerns about the declining health of the world's oceans and forests," said CITES Secretary General Willem Wijnstekers.

Governments are also seeking to ease rules on trade in some of the world's largest sea and land mammals, such as the elephant, because they say the animal populations have recovered after years of CITES protections.

The growing elephant population in southern Africa led CITES to agree to one-time sales of ivory stockpiles in 1997 and 2002. Namibia yesterday introduced a proposal for an annual export quota of 2 metric tons and is also proposing, along with South Africa, to trade elephant leather goods commercially. Delegates from African countries with elephant ranges will meet before the Bangkok conference.

U.N. Environment Program Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said the proposals "confirm that CITES can effectively contribute to sustainable development and poverty alleviation" (CITES release, June 14).
Published in UN Wire - Copyright, National Journal Group, Year 2004