Geneva, 2 August 2024 — Sustainably managing sharks, rays, snakes, big cats and other fauna in international trade requires scientific collaboration to monitor the conservation needs of species in the wild. This involves making scientific assessments of the impacts of trade on species and their roles in the ecosystem, considering their diverse contributions to community livelihoods and ensuring that cross-border trade is not detrimental to their continued existence in the wild.
On 19 July 2024, after seven days of expert discussions on the status of species of fauna in international trade covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the 33rd meeting of the CITES Animals Committee (AC33) concluded. This committee provides scientific advice and guidance to support to decision-making on a broad range of matters relating to international trade in animal species, as outlined in the Decisions adopted by the CITES Parties.
In closing the meeting, CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero said: "The [CITES] Secretariat is grateful to all 331 participants at this meeting, including 205 representatives from 64 Parties and 126 representatives from 79 observer organizations. Your passion and commitment give hope to the younger generations that the animal species listed in the CITES Appendices will remain in the wild for many years to come."
AC33 commenced on 12 July 2024, as part of the joint session of the 27th meeting of the CITES Plants Committee (PC27) (8-12 July 2024) and the 33rd meeting of the CITES Animals Committee (12-19 July 2024). During the joint session (12-13 July 2024), members of both committees, amongst others, considered the collaboratively developed preliminary guidance on Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs) that has been published on the CITES website.
After the adoption of the Resolution on NDF guidance at the 16th CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP16) in 2013, and following the recent global workshop on NDFs in Nairobi, December 2023, this is the first elaboration of the NDF guidance. It includes generic guidance on how to conduct an assessment to determine whether the export will be detrimental to the survival of the species or not, as well as guidance on key thematic areas, including migratory species, birds, aquatic species, trees and reptiles.
For the first time in CITES history, sharks and rays were included in the Review of Significant Trade (RST). The discussions highlighted the need for NDFs at the stock level, as well as for tailored conservation efforts, taking into account the distinct populations of the same species in different oceans. The Committee recommended that NDFs be reviewed, at most, every five years to effectively track trends and changes in the stocks, particularly when multiple countries are involved in managing the same stock. The Committee also considered a study on the apparent mismatch between trade data and catch data and agreed on recommendations to improve reporting.
Reptiles, including the Ball python (Python regius), were also included in RST, with the Committee tasking some Parties with conservative export quotas and all Parties with a 36-month timeframe for the implementation of recommended measures, including science-based monitoring, the development of national management plans, and the creation of identification materials. Such measures are crucial for ensuring sustainable trade practices and the long-term
survival of these species.
Several key areas in the conservation and sustainable management of big cats, aquatic species, birds and other species were also addressed during the meeting. For big cats, the Committee acknowledged the importance of information sharing between leopard (Panthera pardus) range States, discussed the development of work programs and an intergovernmental platform to support jaguar (Panthera onca) conservation, and highlighted an ongoing comparative study of lion (Panthera leo) management across range States. The Committee agreed on proposed draft decisions to support the development of an African lion database, as well as on the development of resource toolkits for consideration by the CITES Conference of the Parties at its 20th meeting to be held in 2025.
For aquatic species, the need to develop guidance for monitoring seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) was discussed, focusing on distinguishing source codes and sharing effective monitoring programs. The Committee also agreed that work on Queen conch (Strombus gigas) including support to range States to make scientifically robust NDFs and that the development of a traceability system should continue during the next intersessional period.
For birds and other species, the Committee members came to agreement on prioritizing the development of identification materials for vultures (Accipitridae spp.) and on conversion parameters for some pangolin (Manidae spp.) species. In addition, the use of microchips and alternative marking methods for small animal species was set to be reviewed and updated to improve species tracking and conservation efforts.
Six species, including Seychelles kestrel (Falco araeus), ground parrot (Pezoporus wallicus), Tampico pearly mussel (Unio tampicoensis tecomatensis) and Shansi argali (Ovis jubata), were selected as potential candidates for Periodic Review.
Discussions were also held on the conservation and management of non-CITES-listed species, including amphibians, songbirds and marine ornamental fishes. The Committee agreed on draft decisions to gather comprehensive information on priority amphibian species and encouraged biosecurity measures to reduce pathogen transmission. The Committee further agreed on recommendations for Parties to implement measures for ensuring sustainable trade in songbirds and encouraged Parties to share methods and tools used to prioritize marine ornamental fish which may warrant further research and other considerations.
Concluding his last Animals Committee meeting as Chair of the Committee, Mathias Lörtscher from Switzerland during the closing remarks said: "We would not have been able to achieve this without you all: the observer organizations, observer Parties, but especially the Members of the Committee. You have provided your guidance, passion and knowledge in a meaningful way, so that we have been able to make good decisions for species conservation."
The 33rd Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee has set a clear path forward for the conservation and sustainable use of various species of fauna in international trade. Its comprehensive outcomes reflect a concerted global effort to enhance the management and trade practices of CITES-listed species, for ensuring their survival in the wild.
For more information on the 33rd meeting of the CITES Animals Committee
Previous CITES Animals Committee Meetings
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About CITES
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed on 3 March 1973 and entered into force on 1 July 1975. With 184 Parties (183 countries + the European Union), it remains one of the world's most powerful tools for wildlife conservation through the regulation of international trade in over 40,900 species of wild animals and plants. CITES-listed species are used by people around the world in their daily lives for food, health care, furniture, housing, tourist souvenirs, cosmetics or fashion. CITES seeks to ensure that international trade in such species is sustainable, legal and traceable and contributes to both the livelihoods of the communities that live closest to them and to national economies for a healthy planet and the prosperity of the people in support of UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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