Annex 3

Action plan for the control of international trade in
the bigleaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla)

1. All range States of the bigleaf mahogany should:

a) promote national synergies among the producing countries by establishing formally and specifically inter-institutional committees whose memberships include competent scientific organizations, in order to support Scientific Authorities;

b) perform studies of the sawn timber yields from logs, and on the height-diameter ratio, in order to improve management of and control over bigleaf mahogany timber;

c) foster forest management of the bigleaf mahogany in the region and validate or verify the reports submitted by forestry users, including periodic studies on ecology and growth dynamics;

d) examine the possibility of giving CITES species special treatment in technical standards for forest management plans that use census-taking of diameters smaller than the minimum cutting size in order to determine stocks of remaining trees, the setting of minimum cutting diameters, the percentage of remaining trees that should be left and harvesting techniques; and

e) facilitate the making of non-detriment findings by:

i) preparing, adopting and implementing, as a priority, forest management plans at a national and/or local levels that include specific requirements for the bigleaf mahogany, as outlined in the results of the International Workshop of Experts on Non-Detriment Findings on Bigleaf Mahogany held in Cancun (April 2007) (see document CoP14 Inf. 24) after its endorsement and adoption by the Plants Committee;

ii) developing and conducting forest inventories that enable specific identification and data analysis of the bigleaf mahogany, as well as programmes to monitor the distribution, population size and conservation status of the bigleaf mahogany, based on the results of the International Workshop on Non-Detriment Findings on Bigleaf Mahogany, after its endorsement and adoption by the Plants Committee, and incorporating the three basic requirements for non-detriment findings highlighted in document MWG2 Doc. 7, paragraphs 44 a) to c);

iii) implementing capacity-building programmes in monitoring and management, specifically related to the understanding and application of CITES requirements. This activity might also involve assistance from the Plants Committee and the Secretariat;

iv) submitting reports on progress in the implementation of this Action Plan to the Secretariat no later than 90 days before the 17th meeting of the Plants Committee, so that the Secretariat may include them in a report that it will present at that meeting; and

v) establishing working groups at the national, subregional and regional levels to implement the present Action Plan.

2. The countries members of the Bigleaf Mahogany Working Group should ensure the presence of their representatives at meetings of the Working Group, as well as the presence of al least one of the representatives of the Plants Committee from the range States.

3. Parties and international organizations should stress the importance of not authorizing any export without proof of legal origin of the timber. Importing countries should refuse mahogany shipments accompanied by CITES export permits issued under a court order, unless the importing country can confirm that a non-detriment finding has been made by the Scientific Authority of the country of origin.

4. Bigleaf mahogany range States, in cooperation with importing countries and international organizations, should develop a regional strategy with timelines to address: non-detriment findings, legal origin, and compliance and enforcement issues. The strategy should include the 15 recommendations made in the report of the BMWG (document PC16 Doc. 19.1.1) and mechanisms to ensure adequate implementation and enforcement. Progress on implementation should be reported to the Secretariat 90 days before the 18th meeting of the Plants Committee.

5. The Standing Committee shall discuss compliance and enforcement with regard to the bigleaf mahogany at its 57th, 58th and 59th meetings, and recommend appropriate action.

6. The Plants Committee shall:

a) be the body under which the Bigleaf Mahogany Working Group shall continue its work. The Working Group shall primarily comprise the range States of the species, the main importing countries and at least one member of the Plants Committee;

b) analyse at its 17th meeting the reports presented by the range States and progress made in implementing the present Action Plan directed to Parties, and review the need to include the species in the Review of Significant Trade;

c) discuss and examine at its 18th meeting the progress made with the implementation of the regional strategy; and

d) submit a report at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties on the progress made by the Working Group.

7. The Secretariat shall investigate the high volume of mahogany imports taking place in the Dominican Republic.

8. Importing and exporting Parties, the CITES Secretariat and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations should seek ways to share information through the organization of regional workshops, capacity-building programmes, the exchange of experiences and the identification of financial resources to support exporting countries in their activities, training, studies, and capacity building. Amongst others, support in the form of funding for such capacity-building activities should be sought from bigleaf mahogany importing and exporting industries.