History of NIAPs Process

From the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP18, Geneva, 2019) to the 74th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC74, Lyon, March 2022)

At its 74th meeting (SC74, Lyon, March 2022), the Standing Committee considered document SC74 Doc. 28.4 on the National Ivory Action Plans process.

At SC74,  the Standing Committee agreed recommendations on the NIAP process as presented in document SC74 Sum. 4 (Rev. 1). The Committee, inter alia, agreed to not include Turkey, which was identified by the ETIS report prepared for CoP18, in the NIAP process. The Committee also agreed to let Hong Kong SAR, which ‘achieved’ its NIAP, exit the process.

 

The 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP18, Geneva, August 2019)

At its 18th meeting (CoP18, Geneva, August 2019), the Conference of the Parties considered document CoP18 Doc. 69.1 on the Implementation of Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) on Trade in elephant specimens, and its Addendum. The results of the deliberations at CoP18 are  reflected in in-session document CoP18 Com. II 6, and summary records CoP18 Com. II Rec. 8 (Rev.1), CoP18 Com. II Rec.13 (Rev.1) and CoP18 Plen. Rec. 3 (Rev.1).

The Conference of the Parties at CoP18 adopted amendments to the Guidelines to the NIAP process, available in Annex 3 to Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP18). The purpose of the amendments was, inter alia, to reflect the new names for the NIAP Party categories, endorsed by the Standing Committee at its 69th meeting (SC69, Geneva, November 2017); to address NIAP process-related matters, and to make reference to the Guidance to Parties developing and implementing National Ivory Action Plans developed by participants in the meeting of representatives of Parties concerned with the development and implementation of NIAPs, held in Maputo, Mozambique, in 2018.

The Conference of the Parties also agreed to include a reference to Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP18) in the footnote to paragraph 30 in the Annex to Resolution Conf. 14.3 (Rev. CoP18) on CITES compliance procedures.

The Conference of the Parties further agreed to delete Decisions 17.70 to 17.82 on the National ivory action plans process, as these have been implemented or incorporated in Annex 3 to Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP18).

In the Addendum to document CoP18 Doc. 69.1, the Secretariat highlighted that the provisions in Resolution Conf. 11.17 (Rev. CoP18) on National reports and in Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP18) create partly overlapping reporting requirements for Parties. To address this matter, the Conference of the Parties adopted Decision 18.18 which directs the Secretariat to include this issue in the terms of reference for the review of the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) programme.

The status of Parties identified by ETIS after CoP18 and the 71st meeting of the Standing Committee (SC71, Geneva, August 2019), is shown in the table below.

 

From the 70th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC70, Sochi, October 2018) to the 71st meeting of the Standing Committee (SC71, Geneva, August 2019)

At its 71st meeting (SC71, Geneva, August 2019), the Standing Committee considered document SC71 Doc. 11 on the National Ivory Action Plans process.

The Standing Committee at SC71 agreed recommendations on the NIAP process as presented in document SC71 SR. The Committee, inter alia, considered whether any Parties identified by the ETIS report prepared for the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP18, Geneva, August 2019)  and not subject to the NIAP process, should be included in the process. It further considered if any Parties included in the process that achieved their NIAPs, should exit it. The Committee agreed to not include any new Parties in the NIAP process and to let Egypt and Malawi, two Parties that ‘achieved’ their NIAPs, exit the process. The Committee also requested Mozambique and Nigeria to revise and update their NIAPs, and adopted further recommendations concerning a number of other Parties which had not submitted their reports on progress with NIAP implementation to SC70 in a timely manner, and for which progress was as a result discussed and considered at SC71.

 

From the 69th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC69, Geneva, November 2017) to the 70th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC70, Sochi, October 2018)

At its 70th meeting(SC70, Sochi, October 2018), the Standing Committee considered document SC70 Doc. 27.4 on the National Ivory Action Plans Process, and its Addendum. Reports on progress with NIAP implementation submitted by Parties subject to the NIAP process were made available to the Committee in the Annexes to document SC70 Doc. 27.4.

The Standing Committee, at SC70, agreed recommendations on the NIAP process as presented in document SC70 Sum. 2 (Rev. 1). These include recommendations on Parties that reported that they have 'substantially achieved' their NIAPs. In this context, the Committee agreed that China [excluding Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China], Kenya, Philippines, Thailand, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania exit the NIAP process in accordance with Step 5 paragraph d) of the Guidelines.

The Secretariat at SC70 reported that it had convened a meeting of representatives of Parties concerned with the development and implementation of NIAPs in Maputo, Mozambique, from 1 to 4 May 2018 in close cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development of Mozambique, and its partners in the International Consortium on Combatting Wildlife Crime (ICCWC). The meeting was organized thanks to generous funds provided by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the implementation of the ICCWC Strategic Programme 2016-2020.

The Standing Committee concluded that the actions agreed by participants in the meeting of representatives of Parties concerned with the development and implementation of NIAPs could provide valuable guidance to Parties included in the NIAP process, in developing and implementing their NIAPs. The Standing Committee encouraged Parties included in the NIAP process, to draw upon the actions on Legislation and regulations; National level enforcement action and inter-agency collaboration; International and regional enforcement collaboration; Outreach, public awareness and education; and Resource mobilization, when developing and implementing their NIAPs.These actions are available in English, French and Spanish on the NIAP webpage.

As reflected in document SC70 Sum. 12 (Rev.1), the Standing Committee also agreed to forward to the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP18, Colombo, 2019) a proposal to amend Annex 3 to Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) on Trade in elephant specimens, to reflect the new names for the NIAP Party categories agreed at the 69th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC69, Geneva, November 2017), and to address NIAP process-related matters. 

Paragraph 30 of the Annex to Resolution Conf. 14.3 on CITES compliance procedures provides for recommendations to suspend trade in certain cases. Such recommendations should always be specifically and explicitly based on the Convention and on any applicable Resolutions and Decisions of the Conference of the Parties. Footnote 1 in paragraph 30 of the Annex to Resolution Conf. 14.3 lists which Resolutions and Decisions are applicable in this context. The Committee in the light of this, at SC70 agreed to propose to CoP18 to include Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev CoP17) on Trade in elephant specimens, in the footnote to paragraph 30 in the Annex to Resolution Conf. 14.3.

 

From the 17th meeting (CoP17, Johannesburg, September 2016) of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to the 69^th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC69, Geneva, November 2017)

At CoP17, the Conference of the Parties adopted Guidelines to the NIAP Process, contained in Annex 3 to Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) on Trade in elephant specimens, as well as Decisions 17.70-17.82 on the National ivory action plan process.

Decision 17.75 directed the Secretariat, at the conclusion of CoP17, to commence the process of reviewing the need for Parties newly identified by the ETIS Report prepared for CoP17 as presented in document CoP17 Doc. 57.6 (Rev. 1) on Report on the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS Report of TRAFFIC), to participate in the NIAP process. Parties concerned were Malawi, Singapore, and Togo, identified as Parties of 'primary concern', South Africa and Sri Lanka, identified as Parties of 'secondary concern', and Japan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, identified as Parties of 'importance to watch. In accordance with the NIAP Guidelines, the Secretariat invited these Parties to submit any additional information it considers relevant for determining if it should be included in the NIAP process, and prepared recommendations to the Standing Committee. On 3 March 2017, the Secretariat initiated a postal procedure in accordance with Rules 30 to 32 of the Rules of Procedure of the Standing Committee, to consult the Committee on whether the Parties mentioned above should participate in the NIAPs process. On 2 June 2017 the Secretariat issued a Notification, informing Parties of the Standing Committee’s decision.

In accordance with the NIAP Guidelines, the Secretariat prepared  document SC69 Doc. 29.3 and the Addendum to it, on the National Ivory Action Plans Process, including recommendations, for consideration by the Standing Committee at its 69^th meeting. Reports on progress with NIAP implementation submitted by Parties subject to the NIAP process, were made available to the Committee in the Annexes to document SC69 Doc. 29.3.

At SC69, the Standing Committee agreed recommendations on the National Ivory Action Plan Process, as presented in document SC69 Sum. 10 (Rev. 1).

As reflected in document SC69 Sum. 3 (Rev.1), the Standing Committee at SC69 also agreed to endorse new names for the NIAP Party categories, including an explanation for each category, and requested the Secretariat to prepare a proposal to amend Annex 3 to Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) accordingly to reflect these changes, for consideration by the Standing Committee and onward submission to CoP18. The Committee also requested the Secretariat to request ETIS to use the new names in future ETIS Reports.

The new endorsed names for the NIAP Party categories are as follows:

• Parties of 'primary concern' become ‘Category A Parties’. Category A consists of Parties most affected by the illegal trade in ivory.
• Parties of 'secondary concern' become ‘Category B Parties’. Category B consists of Parties markedly affected by the illegal trade in ivory".
• Parties of 'importance to watch' become ‘Category C Parties’. Category C consists of Parties affected by the illegal trade in ivory.

 

The 17th meeting (CoP17, Johannesburg, September 2016) of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The Standing Committee at its 66th meeting (SC66, Geneva, January 2016), requested the Secretariat to identify Parties of ‘primary concern’,‘secondary concern’ and ‘importance to watch’, based on an analysis of the Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) and the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) reports prepared for the Conference of the Parties at its 17th meeting (CoP17), and to make recommendations for consideration by CoP17 (SC66 Com. 1 (Rev. by Sec.)).

A detailed document on the NIAPs process was prepared for CoP17, available on the CITES website as document CoP17 Doc. 24 (Rev. 1) on National ivory action plans process.

The ETIS Report prepared for CoP17 as presented in document CoP17 Doc. 57.6 (Rev. 1) on Report on the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS Report of TRAFFIC),  covers data from 2012-2014, and identifies nine Parties of ‘primary concern’, nine Parties of ‘secondary concern’, and nine Parties of ‘importance to watch’. Five Parties are newly identified by the ETIS Report prepared for CoP17. These are Malawi, Singapore and Togo as Parties of ‘primary concern’, and South Africa and Sri Lanka as Parties of ‘secondary concern’. This raises the total number of Parties that could participate in the NIAP process from 22 to 27. New Parties as well as the changes in the categorisation of Parties in the ETIS Report prepared for CoP17, compared to the categorisation of Parties in the ETIS Report prepared for the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, is shown in the table below.

Changes in identification status of Parties between CoP16 and CoP17

 

The Secretariat provided its recommendations as was requested by SC66 in Annex 2 to document CoP17 Doc. 24 (Rev. 1), for consideration by the Conference of the Parties.

 

At CoP17 the Conference of the Parties revisited the NIAP process.The Parties adopted inter alia a new set of Guidelines to the NIAP Process, contained in Annex 3 to Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) on Trade in elephant specimens, as well as Decisions 17.70-17.82 on the National ivory action plan process.

 

From the 66th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC66, Geneva, January 2016) to the 67th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC67, Johannesburg, September 2016)

To facilitate the Standing Committee’s consideration of the overall progress made with NIAP implementation, the Secretariat defined simple criteria to indicate whether a NIAP has been ‘substantially achieved’. The criteria were: that a minimum of 80% of NIAP actions have been self-assessed by the Party as ‘substantially achieved’, that any remaining actions have been self-assessed as ‘on track’ for achievement, and that the progress report submitted by the Party provides sufficient detail of the activities delivered to justify the allocated progress ratings.

Parties of ‘primary concern’

The 66th meeting of the Standing Committee commended China (including Hong Kong SAR), Kenya, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam for substantially achieving their NIAPs. The Standing Committee encouraged these Parties to complete the implementation of any NIAP actions that have not yet been ‘substantially achieved’, and to report to SC67 on any further measures taken to implement their NIAPs and, if appropriate, any other initiatives or policy developments to combat elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade.

The Standing Committee noted that comprehensive data from the Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) programme and the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) was not yet available to determine whether Parties of ‘primary concern’ that have ‘substantially achieved’ their NIAPs remain of ‘primary concern’, and further noted that such information would be available at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17, Johannesburg, September 2016).

The Standing Committee requested Malaysia, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania as Parties of ‘primary concern’, to enhance efforts to progress the implementation of NIAP actions, continue the implementation of their NIAPs between SC66 and SC67, and to report on the further implementation to SC67 in a format provided by the Secretariat. The Standing Committee agreed to consider the progress reports and any recommendations of the Secretariat at its 67th meeting, to decide whether these Parties have ‘substantially achieved’ their NIAPs, have made progress but not yet ‘substantially achieved’ their NIAPs, or have made insufficient progress and require compliance measures.

China (including Hong Kong SAR), the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam, identified by SC66 as Parties that substantially achieved their NIAPs, submitted reports for SC67.  

Malaysia, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, identified by SC66 as Parties of ‘primary concern’ that have not yet ‘substantially achieved’ their NIAPs, submitted reports for SC67 in the template provided by the Secretariat, as requested by SC66. While Malaysia and Uganda rated all their NIAP actions as ‘substantially achieved’, the United Republic of Tanzania did not indicate its NIAP as ‘substantially achieved’.

At SC67 the Standing Committee considered the reports submitted by Parties of ‘primary concern’ and the recommendations of the Secretariat, that were presented to the meeting in document SC67 Doc. 13 on National Ivory Action Plans process and its Annexes. The Standing Committee commended China (including Hong Kong SAR), the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam for the further measures taken to implement their NIAPs, and on the initiatives and policy developments to combat elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade that have taken place since SC66.

With respect to the Parties that had not ‘substantially achieved’ their NIAP, the Standing Committee encouraged these Parties to report at its 69th meeting (SC69, Geneva, November 2017) on further progress. In addition, the Standing Committee agreed to keep the process of developing and implementation of NIAPs under review in accordance with amendments to Resolution Conf. 10.10, and any guidelines to the NIAPs process adopted by the Conference of the Parties at CoP17.

Parties of ‘secondary concern’ and of ‘importance to watch’

At SC66 the Secretariat reported that ten of the eleven Parties of ‘secondary concern’ and ‘importance to watch’ developed an ‘adequate’ NIAP, and that on 23 December 2015 the Secretariat received a NIAP from Nigeria, the only Party whose plan had still been outstanding. The Secretariat reported that since two of the four milestones in the plan submitted by Nigeria had passed, the Secretariat was without confirmation that progress had been made towards these milestones, unable to conclude that it was an ‘adequate’ NIAP.

The Secretariat further reported that Angola, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Nigeria failed to submit NIAP progress reports to SC66 as was requested by the Standing Committee.

As a result, the Standing Committee recommended that all Parties suspend commercial trade in specimens of CITES-listed species with Angola, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Nigeria until such time as these Parties submit a progress report on the implementation of their NIAPs, confirming that some progress has been made towards NIAP actions.

On 18 January 2016, the Secretariat received a NIAP progress report from Nigeria. The report confirmed that progress has been made towards the milestones in the NIAP, and the Secretariat concluded that the NIAP submitted by Nigeria was adequate. On 11 February 2016 the Secretariat in accordance with the provisions of the recommendations adopted by SC66, issued Notification 2016/009 to the Parties, informing Parties that the recommendation to suspend commercial trade in specimens of CITES-listed species with Nigeria is withdrawn.

On 11 February 2016 the Secretariat also issued Notifications to the Parties communicating the Standing Committee's recommendation that all Parties suspend commercial trade in CITES-listed specimens with Angola and the Lao People's Democratic Republic until such time as these Parties submit a progress report on NIAP implementation confirming that some progress has been made towards NIAP actions.

On 23 February the Secretariat received a NIAP progress report from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and on 1 March 2016 the Secretariat received a NIAP progress report from Angola. The Secretariat considered these reports and came to the conclusion that although modest, some progress was made by both Parties with the implementation of their NIAPs, as required by the provisions of the recommendation adopted by the Standing Committee at its 66th meeting.  As a result, the Secretariat issued Notifications to the Parties 2016/028 of 21 March 2016 and 2016/029 of 21 March 2016, informing Parties that the recommendation to suspend commercial trade in specimens of CITES-listed species with Angola and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic is withdrawn.

The 66th  meeting of the Standing Committee requested Cameroon, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Mozambique and Nigeria, as Parties of ‘secondary concern', and Angola, Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, as Parties of ‘importance to watch’, to enhance efforts to progress the implementation of NIAP actions, continue the implementation of their NIAPs between SC66 and SC67, and to report on the further measures taken to implement their NIAPs to SC67 in a format provided by the Secretariat. The Standing Committee agreed to consider the progress reports submitted and any recommendations of the Secretariat at its 67th meeting, to decide whether these Parties have ‘substantially achieved’ their NIAPs, have made progress but not yet ‘substantially achieved’ their NIAPs, or have made insufficient progress and require compliance measures.

A reporting template was subsequently developed by the Secretariat and distributed to Parties of ‘secondary concern’ in English and French.

Angola, Cambodia, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mozambique and Nigeria submitted reports for SC67. No reports were received from Cameroon and Gabon.

The received reports were made available to SC67 as Annexes to document SC67 Doc. 13 on National Ivory Action Plans process. The Secretariat was not directed by the Standing Committee to evaluate the reports received. However, to facilitate the Standing Committee’s consideration of the progress made by Parties of ‘secondary concern’ and ‘importance to watch’, the Secretariat compiled a brief summary (SC67 Doc. 13, Annex 1) of national ivory action plan development and implementation by each Party. The Secretariat conveyed to the Standing Committee that none of the Parties of ‘secondary concern’ or ‘importance to watch’ had assessed themselves as having ‘substantially achieved’ their NIAP.

The Standing Committee noted document SC67 Doc. 13 and its Annexes and considered the reports submitted by Parties of ‘secondary concern’ and of ‘importance to watch’ as well as the recommendations of the Secretariat. The Standing Committee encouraged these Parties to report at its 69th meeting on further progress. The Standing Committee further agreed to keep the process of developing and implementation of NIAPs under review in accordance with amendments to Resolution Conf. 10.10, and any guidelines to the NIAPs process adopted by the Conference of the Parties at CoP17.

With regard to Cameroon and Gabon that had not submitted NIAP implementation reports to SC67 as requested, the Standing Committee agreed to set a deadline of 30 days for the submission of their reports and to consider compliance measures by postal procedure should these reports not be submitted. Both Parties subsequently submitted progress reports within the deadline set by SC67.

 

From the 65th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC65, Geneva, July 2014) to the 66th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC66, Geneva, January 2016)

Parties of ‘primary concern’

From the 63rd meeting of the Standing Committee (SC63, Bangkok, March 2013) to the 65th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC65, Geneva, July 2014)

Parties of ‘primary concern’