Parties affected by illegal trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles are encouraged to:
a) initiate national level law enforcement operations specifically targeting illegal trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles, and to participate in global operations such as those initiated by INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization, identifying tortoises and freshwater turtles as a priority species for these operations;
b) draw the Identification guide to tortoises and freshwater turtles: Parts, products and derivatives in trade to the attention of their national agencies responsible for wildlife law enforcement and promote its use; and
c) translate the guide into their national languages where needed and inform the Secretariat about the availability of such translated versions.
19.123 to 19.127 Tortoises and freshwater turtles (Testudines spp.)
19.123
Decision directed to:
Parties affected by illegal trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles
19.124
Decision directed to:
Secretariat
Subject to available funding, the Secretariat shall:
a) engage with its partners in the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime to implement activities specifically targeting illegal trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles, which could include providing preparatory support to Parties for global law enforcement operations targeting wildlife crime, convening a further INTERPOL Regional Investigative and Analytical Case Management meeting, as well as a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Wildlife Inter-Regional Enforcement (WIRE) meeting.
b) develop a CITES App version of the Identification guide to tortoises and freshwater turtles: Parts, products and derivatives in trade, to be made available for use by Parties; and
c) report at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties on the implementation of the present Decision and any information received from Parties in accordance with Decision 19.123.
19.125
Decision directed to:
Madagascar
Madagascar is encouraged to:
a) prepare a comprehensive conservation strategy for its four critically endangered species (Astrochelys radiata, A. yniphora, Pyxis arachnoides and P. planicauda), taking into consideration the multifaceted threats of collection for local consumption and international trade compounded by habitat loss;
b) undertake the activities in document CoP19 Doc. 78, paragraph 4 b) i) to iv); and
c) present the work prepared under paragraph a) of the present Decision to the Animals Committee for assessment at its 34th meeting.*
As adopted at CoP19. The Secretariat believes that the intention was for Madagascar report to the 33rd meeting of the Animals Committee since the 34th meeting of the Animals Committee would take place after CoP20.
19.126
Decision directed to:
Animals Committee
The Animals Committee shall, at its 34th meeting*, review the conservation strategy reported by Madagascar under Decision 19.125 and submit recommendations to the Standing Committee and Secretariat, as appropriate.
19.127
Decision directed to:
Standing Committee and Secretariat
The Standing Committee and the Secretariat shall:
a) consider the recommendations provided by the Animals Committee under Decision 19.126 and prepare new decisions directed to Madagascar outlining future work to combat the ongoing threats of illegal collection and trade of the four Astrochelys and Pyxis species; and
b) report at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties on the implementation of Decision 19.125 and provide recommendations as per paragraph a) of the present Decision, as appropriate.