CITES National Ivory Action Plans

CITES national ivory action plans (NIAPs) are a practical tool that is being used by the Convention in a number of its member States, identified as 'Category A Parties' *, 'Category B Parties' ** and 'Category C Parties' ***, to strengthen their controls of the trade in ivory and ivory markets, and help combat the illegal trade in ivory. These NIAPs are developed in compliance with recommendations made by the CITES Standing Committee.

Each plan outlines the urgent measures that a CITES Party commits to deliver – including legislative, enforcement and public awareness actions as required – along with specified time frames and milestones for implementation.

While the plans follow a common formula of actions, timeframes and milestones, each national ivory action plan is unique. A plan should identify the actions that are of highest priority for a particular Party to help combat the illegal ivory trade, depending upon the Party’s own circumstances including its capacity-building needs, the extent of available resources, and the scale and nature of illegal trade and whether the Party is a source, transit or destination State for illegal ivory.
 
 
   *Category A Parties consist of Parties most affected by the illegal trade in ivory
 **Category B Parties consist of Parties markedly affected by the illegal trade in ivory
***Category C Parties consist of Parties affected by the illegal trade in ivory

Resolutions / Decisions

Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP18) on Trade in elephant specimens

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Reports by the CITES Secretariat

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Tools and Resources

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Category A Parties *

  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Nigeria
  • Togo***
  • Viet Nam

Introduction

NIAPs and Progress reports

*Category A Parties consist of Parties most affected by the illegal trade in ivory 

*As identified by ETIS Analysis prepared for CoP19

***As identified by ETIS Analysis prepared for CoP17

Category B Parties *

  • Cambodia
  • Gabon
  • Malaysia 
  • Mozambique

Introduction

NIAPs and Progress reports

*Category B Parties consist of Parties markedly affected by the illegal trade in ivory

*As identified by ETIS Analysis prepared for CoP19

 

Category C Parties *

  • Angola**
  • Cameroon**
  • Congo**
  • Lao People’s Democratic Republic**
  • Qatar***

Introduction

NIAPs and Progress reports

*Category C Parties consist of Parties affected by the illegal trade in ivory
 
**As identified by ETIS Analysis prepared for CoP18
 
***As identified by ETIS Analysis prepared for CoP17
 

Background to NIAPs

History of the NIAPs process

CoP and SC documents on progress with NIAP implementation

NIAP-related Resolutions, Decisions, Recommendations and ETIS Reports

Further information