ATIBT Forum 2024: Keynote Address by CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero

Actualizado en 09 Octubre 2024

 

ATIBT Forum 2024

Keynote Address by CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero

3 October 2024, Antwerp, Belgium

 

© Paul Cuveillier ATIBT

Excellencies,

Madame Francoise Van de Ven, President, Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux and moderator of this session. 

Ms Flore Koumba Pambo, our dear Plants Committee Chair,

Distinguished panellists and speakers,

Esteemed colleagues and friends,

I would like to begin by warmly thanking the International Tropical Timber Technical Association, or ATIBT, for giving me the honour to address so many key global stakeholders working together to ensure the sustainability and legality of the tropical timber trade. I sincerely feel that this moment is a significant milestone: our engagement with such a diverse representation of the timber sector, with voices from both the private industry and key governmental agencies. You will soon hear presentations by Franck Monthe from ATIBT, Hervé Maidou from COMIFAC, Brenda Sanctorum representing Belgian Customs, and Mme Barbara Soto-Largo Moreno, Chair of the European Commission's Scientific Review Group. Their presence reflects the collaborative spirit necessary to ensure the world’s forests will continue to benefit our future generations.

Some of you will be familiar with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES. But please allow me to say a few words about it for those who are not so familiar. The strength of CITES, a legally binding treaty with 184 signatory States that entered into force in 1975, almost 50 years ago, lies in the specificity of its mandate: to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants, including tree and forest species, does not threaten their survival in the wild.

Many are surprised when they learn that around 800 tropical tree species are listed under CITES Appendices, and it may even be more surprising that this has happened in the last decade or so. The majority of CITES-regulated trees, including rosewoods, mahoganies, cedars, agarwood, yew trees, African cherry, cumarú, brazilwood, and ipe, are listed in Appendix II. These tree species have brightened our lives with furniture, music, medicine, and more. Ensuring their survival by enabling legal and sustainable trade that benefits local communities and national economies is at the core of our efforts.

As you may know, Appendix II species can be traded commercially between countries as long as they are accompanied by a CITES permit. Now, what are the core requirements of the Convention that have to be adhered to to allow the international trade of these species? 

  1. Proof of sustainability, also known as Non-Detriment Findings, or NDFs.
  2. Proof of legality, referred to as Legal Acquisition Findings, or LAFs.

Non-Detriment Findings and Legal Acquisition Findings are the foundation upon which all international trade in CITES species is built. The Scientific Authorities in each country of origin are responsible for developing NDFs, ensuring that any export does not detrimentally impact the survival of the species. Management Authorities oversee the LAF process, certifying that the specimens were legally acquired. However, this process cannot be done in isolation. Industry stakeholders—including timber companies—play an essential role in applying for export permits and providing CITES authorities with the required information.

Our work would not be possible without the collaboration of range States, importing Parties, the academic community, industry stakeholders, and partners such as ATIBT. This multilateral collaboration is essential to successfully implementing CITES provisions and ensuring sustainable management of tree species.

In addition, while CITES establishes baseline requirements for NDFs and LAFs, the Treaty allows Parties to put in place stricter domestic measures if they so wish. Importing and exporting range States must communicate and coordinate closely to address these additional requirements. Although the CITES Secretariat is not in a position to comment on these stricter domestic measures, it does encourage for both importing and exporting Parties to work together to navigate and implement these stricter measures effectively to ensure legal trade continues to run smoothly.

Over the past three years, the CITES community has focused on building the capacity of our 184 member countries with initiatives such as:

  • The new CITES standard guidance on Non-Detriment Findings for tree species, including a new Module on NDFs for tree species. This guidance integrates CITES language with sustainable forest management principles, aiding authorities in conducting scientifically grounded sustainability assessments for harvest and trade.
  • Enhancing NDF and Legal Acquisition Findings through targeted training workshops. For example, the workshop on African rosewood held in Douala from September 2-6, 2024, brought together representatives from all range states and key stakeholders in the timber sector, thanks to our collaboration with ATIBT and the generous hosting of the government of Cameroon.
  • Expanding our collective knowledge in trade, conservation, and the biology of CITES-listed tree species, supported by new partnerships with donors and international organizations, and of course, importing and exporting Parties!

The meetings of CITES advisory and governing bodies, namely the Scientific Committees, the Standing Committee and the Conference of the Parties (CoP) provide a valuable platform for the CITES community to exchange experiences and best practices in implementing the Convention. For instance, at the upcoming meeting of the Standing Committee, a key topic of discussion will be the encouraging strides by range States of African rosewood Pterocarpus erinaceus in implementing compliance related recommendations, including those relating to trade suspensions. Active participation in these meetings, whether as observers or through regional representations, is essential. This ensures that all CITES stakeholders remain engaged, informed and aligned with the Convention’s mission.  

More important than anything, in my view, is to strengthen communication at the national level between CITES authorities and the industry stakeholders. Communication is essential to understand the rules of the game and how to follow them. When it comes to preparation of proposals to amend the appendices of the Convention to be considered at the next CoP, scheduled for November/December 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, proposals from non-range States must be submitted to the Secretariat 330 days before the dates of the CoP and proposals from range States must be submitted 150 days before the CoP. This means that consultations between those non range states with range states and between range starts should start very early – including consultations at the national level. Some Parties have regulations that require consultations with stakeholders at the national level. 

Ladies and gentlemen, by fostering collaboration, enhancing capacity, and ensuring adherence to legal and sustainable practices, we are paving the way for a bright future. A future where the trade in forest products and tree species aligns with your government’s achievement of the global goals for forests, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

Our speakers today will delve into a wide range of topics—from the foundational context and scientific principles underpinning CITES, to the practical challenges and strategies for ensuring compliance and sustainability of the international timber trade. I am confident that the diverse perspectives and expertise of our esteemed speakers will enrich our understanding and guide us toward effective solutions.

Thank you again and I look forward to the presentations and discussions.