Reporting requirements

Directed to the Standing Committee

12.87

a) The Standing Committee shall undertake a review of the reporting requirements under the Convention with a view to identifying and analysing the causes of non-compliance with those requirements and proposing ways to turn reporting requirements into useful management tools for Parties. b) The review shall consider the: i) various reporting requirements under the Convention and Resolutions and Decisions of the Conference of the Parties (e.g. annual reports, biennial reports, special reports, etc.); ii) feasibility and desirability of undertaking analyses of Parties' capacity to produce complete, accurate and timely reports; iii) possible inclusion of CITES reports in broader biodiversity or state-of-the-environment reports; iv) experience of other conventions in facilitating Parties' compliance with reporting requirements; v) sufficiency of the existing Guidelines for the preparation and submission of CITES annual reports; vi) actions needed to make better use of CITES data through graphic review tools, building on the report on CITES trade data: an under-utilized wildlife resource, and to develop the searchability of such data on the CITES website; vii) desirability and feasibility of producing an International Yearbook of Wildlife Trade; viii) work of the Standing Committee related to information management systems; ix) additional financial or technical assistance that might facilitate reporting; x) implications of technological developments such as electronic permitting; xi) desirability and feasibility of a coordinated global system for the issuance and monitoring of CITES permits and certificates; xii) accessibility of annual reports; xiii) consequences of persistent late or non-submission of reports, despite assistance; xiv) possible need to revise or draft relevant resolutions of the Conference of the Parties; xv) necessary funding from the CITES Trust Fund or external sources that would be required to implement actions that are proposed; and xvi) most cost effective measures required to implement these matters. c) The review shall include the following terms of reference relevant to biennial reports: i) to clarify the purpose and usefulness of biennial reports, especially in relation to annual reports, the submission of biennial reports by Parties with Category 1 legislation under the National Legislation Project and various special reports under the Convention; ii) to assess the need to enhance the use of biennial reports as a means for Parties to communicate implementation problems and possible solutions; iii) to explore whether biennial reports could be thematic in nature and synchronized with special reports for the Conference of the Parties or subsidiary bodies to the Convention; iv) to consider whether biennial reports could be harmonized with national reporting under other biodiversity-related conventions; and v) to identify ways in which biennial reports could be standardized for easier analysis and comparison, including the adoption of guidelines and standard formats for their preparation and submission. d) The Standing Committee shall report at the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties.