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Notification to the Parties

No. 1002 Geneva, 19 December 1997

CONCERNING:

Elephant Co-ordinator

1. At the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, two Resolutions and two Decisions relating to elephants were adopted. One of these, Resolution Conf. 10.9, relates only to proposals for the transfer of populations of African elephant from Appendix I to Appendix II. The others, Resolution Conf. 10.10 and Decisions Nos. 10.1 and 10.2, contain provisions that need to be implemented in the period before the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

2. The relevant part of Resolution Conf. 10.10 concerns monitoring of illegal hunting of elephants and of trade in elephant specimens. Decisions Nos. 10.1 and 10.2 deal, respectively, with 'Conditions for the resumption of trade in African elephant ivory from populations transferred to Appendix II at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties' and with 'Conditions for the disposal of ivory stocks and generating resources for conservation in African elephant range States'.

3. The implementation of the above-mentioned Resolution and the Decisions is a complex and demanding task for the Parties and the Secretariat, as well as for collaborating conservation and donor organizations. The Secretariat is therefore pleased to report that the European Commission has decided to fund the work of a part-time Elephant Co-ordinator to assist with this work. He is Mr Robin Sharp CB, formerly Director of Wildlife and Countryside in the Department of Environment of the United Kingdom. It may be recalled that Mr Sharp organized and chaired the meeting of African elephant range States held in Kasane, Botswana, in 1994 and represented the United Kingdom in the Standing Committee in 1994/5. His appointment will continue until the 41st meeting of the Standing Committee, scheduled for early in 1999.

4. Mr Sharp is an independent consultant who will be working from his home in London, United Kingdom. He will maintain a close liaison with the CITES Secretariat and will assist it in implementing the elephant-related decisions from the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties. However, he will not be representing the Secretariat or carrying out its functions.

5. His initial priorities will be: to work on a timetable for the fulfilment of the conditions laid down for the resumption of ivory trade; to identify sources of funds for the monitoring of hunting and of ivory trade and for the purchase of declared government stocks of ivory; and to develop proposals for implementing these activities. He will therefore need to work in consultation and collaboration with a number of Parties and organizations. He is required to present an interim report to the 40th meeting of the Standing Committee (in early March 1998) and a final report to the 41st meeting.

6. The Parties and concerned organizations are requested to give Mr Sharp their full co-operation and assistance, to help ensure the successful implementation of the decisions of the Conference of the Parties regarding elephants. It would be helpful if any correspondence to the Secretariat relating to the implementation of these decisions could be copied to him.

7. Mr Sharp can be contacted at: