Honiara, 24 October 2024 — The Solomon Islands has taken a critical step towards strengthening the legality and sustainability of its international wildlife trade. Home to a large number of coral species, parrots and other bird species, the Solomon Islands relies on international trade in these species, which are covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as a vital source of income. Ensuring this trade is conducted in a legal and sustainable manner is essential not only for conserving the Islands’ terrestrial and marine biodiversity, but also for safeguarding the livelihoods of communities that depend on these natural resources. To comply with CITES requirements for specimens in trade to be of legal origin, CITES authorities undertake a verification process called a Legal Acquisition Finding (LAF).
On 9-10 October 2024, the Workshop on Legal Acquisition Findings was held in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Supported by the CITES Secretariat and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and organized by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, the workshop brought together government officials, enforcement agencies, and representatives from the private sector and non-governmental organizations.
The aim was to strengthen the capacity of authorities and stakeholders to ensure that specimens in trade are always of legal origin and thereby effectively implement the Convention. The workshop discussed the improvement of domestic procedures for tracing CITES-listed species, enhanced cooperation between national CITES Authorities and relevant stakeholders, and made progress towards developing a domestic traceability guide for national authorities to support LAFs in the Solomon Islands.
CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero said: “We applaud the Solomon Islands' commitment to undertaking a multisector capacity-building initiative that will advance its sustainability and compliance objectives, and the global goals of the CITES Strategic Vision 2021-2030. The knowledge exchanges at this workshop establish a crucial foundation for safeguarding the country's unique biodiversity, ensuring that its wild species continue to thrive in their natural habitats, both now and for generations to come.”
Over the two days, the workshop featured technical presentations, discussions on best practices for conducting LAFs, case studies and practical exercises. Participants exchanged experiences and best practices for CITES permit management, as well as discussed how to strengthen interagency collaboration and improve communication.
The Permanent Secretary said: "This Legal Acquisition Findings workshop, the first of its kind in the Solomon Islands, is a significant step in improving the legality and traceability of wildlife trade. By strengthening the capacity and collaboration of stakeholders involved in the permitting system, we can better regulate trade in CITES-listed species. I expect participants to take what they’ve learned and apply it in their workplaces to ensure the legality of trade in our flora and fauna."
This workshop forms part of the broader collaborative effort between the CITES Secretariat and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to strengthen CITES compliance and law enforcement in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Relevant articles:
Solomon Islands renews commitment to CITES following joint mission, September 2023
____________________
Editor’s Notes:
For media enquiries, please contact [email protected]
For general enquiries, please contact [email protected]
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.
Follow CITES on social media:
Find out more: https://cites.org/eng