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Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; Ninth Regular Meeting
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[Federal Register: October 4, 1994]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; Ninth Regular
Meeting
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: This notice sets forth summaries of the proposed United States
negotiating positions on agenda items and resolutions for the ninth
regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP9) to the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES). Comments or other relevant information concerning
these proposed negotiating positions are solicited. Public meetings to
discuss these proposed negotiating positions also have been held.
DATES: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will consider
information and comments received by October 19, 1994. in formulating
its final negotiating positions.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Director, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, c/o Marshall P. Jones, Chief, Office of Management
Authority, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 420-C, Arlington, VA 22203.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marshall P. Jones or Susan S.
Lieberman, Office of Management Authority, at the above address;
telephone 703/358-2093; fax 703/358-2280.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora, hereinafter referred to as CITES or the Convention, is
an international treaty designed to control international trade in
certain animal and plant species which are or may become threatened
with extinction, and are listed in Appendices to the treaty. Currently,
123 countries, including the United States, are CITES Parties. CITES
calls for biennial meetings of the Conference of the Parties which
review its implementation, make provisions enabling the CITES
Secretariat (in Switzerland) to carry out its functions, consider
amending the list of species in Appendices I and II, consider reports
presented by the Secretariat, and make recommendations for the improved
effectiveness of the Convention.
This is part of a series of notices which, together with public
meetings, provide the public with an opportunity to participate in the
development of the U.S. positions for the ninth regular meeting of the
Conference of the Parties (COP9) to CITES. A Federal Register notice
published on July 15, 1993 (58 FR 38112), requested information and
comments from the public on animal or plant species the United States
might consider as possible amendments to the Appendices. A Federal
Register notice published on November 18, 1993 (58 FR 60873), requested
public comments on possible revisions to the criteria for listing
species in the CITES Appendices. A Federal Register notice published on
January 27, 1994 (59 FR 3832), requested additional comments from the
public on animal or plant species the United States was considering
submitting as amendments to the Appendices. A Federal Register notice
published on January 28, 1994 (59 FR 4096): (1) published the time and
place for COP9; (2) announced a public meeting for February 22, 1994,
to discuss the 31st meeting of the CITES Standing Committee; (3)
detailed the provisional agenda of the COP; and (4) requested
information and comments from the public on possible COP9 agenda items
and resolutions that the United States might submit. A Federal Register
notice published on September 1, 1994 (59 FR 45307), announced a public
meeting to take place on September 14, 1994. A Federal Register notice
published on September 6, 1994 (59 FR 46023), set forth summaries of
proposed U.S. negotiating positions on species proposals that were
submitted by other countries to amend the CITES Appendices and
requested public comment on these proposals. A Federal Register notice
published on September 7, 1994 (59 FR 46266), announced an additional
public meeting to take place on September 16, 1994. The present notice
complements the previous notices by setting forth proposed U.S.
negotiating positions on other agenda items and resolutions for COP9,
and requests public comments on these positions, which were also
presented at the September 14 and 16 public meetings. Another Federal
Register notice will also announce the proposed species amendments,
resolutions, and agenda topics submitted by the United States. The
Service's regulations governing this public process are found in Title
50 of the Code of Federal Regulations Secs. 23.31-23.39.
Proposed Negotiating Positions
In this notice, the Service summarizes proposed negotiating
positions on agenda items and resolutions for COP9 (other than
proposals to amend the Appendices, which are presented in the September
6, 1994, Federal Register notice discussed above). Numerals next to
each agenda item correspond to the numbers used in the provisional
agenda [COP9 Document 9.1 (revised)] received from the CITES
Secretariat. However, documents for a number of the agenda items have
not yet been received from the CITES Secretariat; they will be
available on request from the Service after they have been received.
A list of documents received to date were made available at the
public meetings of September 14 and 16, 1994, and copies will be made
available to the public on request. When information and comments on
the agenda items were submitted in writing to the Service or received
at the February 22, 1994 public meeting, they are included with the
proposed negotiating position. Each proposed position includes a brief
rationale explaining the basis of the position. The Service will
endeavor to publish a Federal Register notice in October 1994 that
details final negotiating positions on all issues pertaining to COP9,
with the understanding that new information that becomes available
during discussions at a COP can often lead to modifications in these
positions. At COP9, the U.S. delegation will fully disclose all
position changes and rationale explaining them.
AGENDA (Provisional)
I. Opening Ceremony by the Authorities of the United States of America
The United States is arranging for a suitable ceremony in
cooperation with the CITES Secretariat. Details of the ceremony will
not be finalized until October, 1994.
II. Welcoming Addresses
The United States is arranging for welcoming addresses from
appropriate officials in cooperation with the CITES Secretariat.
III. Adoption of the Rules of Procedure
See Doc. 9.1 (Rev)--Provisional Agenda for COP9
Oppose modifications to the Rules of Procedure; support retention
of the Rules of Procedure from COP8 in Kyoto, Japan.
The Provisional Rules of Procedure have been circulated by the
CITES Secretariat to the Parties. The Rules of Procedure must be
adopted by the Plenary of the COP at the outset. The only difference
between the Rules of Procedure for COP8 and the Provisional Rules
circulated by the Secretariat are in Rule 15, paragraph 3, which was
modified by the Standing Committee at its thirty-first meeting in
Geneva, 21-25 March 1994. The modifications recommended by the Standing
Committee, and indeed all of the Rules of Procedure, are not official
until they are adopted by the COP. Rule 15, paragraph 3, refers to
secret ballots. According to the Rules of Procedure adopted at COP8
(which did not differ from those at COP7), when a delegation proposes
that a vote be taken by secret ballot, an open vote is required to
approve this proposal; a majority of all Parties voting must approve a
secret ballot before it is implemented. The revised Rules of Procedure
recommended by the Standing Committee, amended at the suggestion of the
observer from Zimbabwe at that meeting, require that only six parties
(the proposer and five seconds) request a secret ballot for it to be
implemented for a particular vote.
At the Standing Committee meeting, the United States delegation
opposed modifying the Rules of Procedure. The proposed COP9 position of
the United States remains in opposition to this modification of the
Rules of Procedure, which operated effectively at both COP7 and COP8.
In numerous international fora (e.g., GATT, UNCED), it has been the
position of the United States to promote openness in the dealings of
intergovernmental organizations. The United States believes that since
a delegation at a COP is accountable to its government, it should not
need to vote in secret.
The United States is also very concerned that making secret ballots
too easy will unnecessarily delay the work of the COP. The United
States also believes that it is inappropriate for the minority
(possibly only six countries) to dictate to the majority how votes
should proceed. The United States believes that a rule allowing a few
countries to require use of the secret ballot could lead to excessive
use of this option. Secret ballots are extremely slow and time
consuming. For budgetary and other reasons, electronic voting cannot be
provided at the COP, which would have minimized the time necessary to
conduct a secret vote. Regardless of how few or many secret ballots are
taken at the COP, however, all U.S. positions and votes on issues will
be publicly disclosed.
IV. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair of the Meeting and of Committees I
and II and of the Budget Committee
No documents will be prepared for this item. Support election of a
Conference Chair from the United States, and highly qualified Committee
and Vice Chairs representing the geographic diversity of CITES.
The Chair of the CITES Standing Committee (New Zealand) will serve
as temporary Chair of the Conference until a permanent Conference Chair
is elected. It is traditional for the host country to provide the
Conference Chair, and the United States will propose a person with
substantial executive skills and international negotiating experience
to be nominated as Chair. This person, if elected by the parties, will
serve as Presiding Officer of the Conference and also of the Conference
Bureau, the executive body which manages the business of the
Conference; other members of the Bureau include the Committee Chairs
(discussed below), the nine members of the Standing Committee (see
Agenda Item IX), and the Secretariat.
The major technical work of CITES is done in the Committees, and
thus Committee chairs must have great technical knowledge and skill. In
addition, CITES benefits from active participation and leadership of
representatives of every region of the world. The United States will
support election of Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Conference
having requisite technical knowledge and skills and also reflecting the
geographic and cultural diversity of CITES. The United States is now
consulting with the Secretariat and the Standing Committee regarding
suitable candidates.
V. Adoption of the Agenda and Working Programme
See Doc. 9.1 (Rev)--Provisional Agenda for COP9; Doc. 9.2 (Rev)--
Provisional Working Programme for COP9; Doc. 9.2.1 (Rev)--Provisional
Working Program for COP9 Committee I; and Doc. 9.2.2 (Rev)--Provisional
Working Program for COP9 Committee II. Support adoption of an agenda
and working program that guarantees a smoothly operating meeting that
addresses all species and implementation issues; the U.S. nominee to
serve as Conference Chair, if accepted by the parties, will be
responsible for management of the overall agenda, in consultation with
the Bureau.
VI. Establishment of the Credentials Committee and Committees I and II
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
Support the establishment of the Credentials Committee and
Committees I and II.
Establishment of the Credentials Committee is a pro forma matter.
The Credentials Committee approves the credentials of delegates to the
COP, by confirming that they are official representatives of their
government, thereby affording them the right to vote in Committee and
Plenary sessions. The United States supports the establishment of
Committees I and II, provided most participating Parties have been able
to send at least two delegates, or that the rules governing debate of
the Committees ensure that most delegations will have an opportunity to
debate recommendations before a final decision is made.
VII. Report of the Credentials Committee
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
Support adoption of the report of the Credentials Committee if it
does not recommend the exclusion of legitimate representatives of
countries that are Parties to CITES. Representatives whose credentials
are not in order should be afforded observer status as provided for
under Article XI. If credentials have been delayed, representatives
should be allowed to vote on a provisional basis. A liberal
interpretation of the Rules of Procedure on credentials should be
adhered to in order to permit clearly legitimate representatives to
participate.
Adoption of the report is generally pro forma. Exclusion of Party
representatives whose credentials are not in order could undermine
essential cooperation among Parties.
VIII. Admission of Observers
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
Support admission to the meeting of all technically qualified nongovernmental
organizations and oppose unreasonable limitations on their
full participation at COP9.
Non-governmental organizations representing a broad range of
viewpoints and perspectives play an important role in CITES activities
and have much to offer to the debates and negotiations at a COP. Their
participation is specifically provided by Article XI of CITES. The
United States supports the opportunity for all technically qualified
observers to fully participate at COPs.
IX. Matters Related to the Standing Committee
No documents have been received yet. This agenda item consists of
three subitems:
- Report of the Chairman. The United States strongly supports the
active role which the current Standing Committee, under the leadership
of New Zealand, has played in carrying out the many functions given to
it by resolutions adopted by Conferences of the Parties. This includes
the review of compliance with these resolutions by the Parties and
making decisions for appropriate action when Parties are not in
compliance.
- Regional representation on the Standing Committee: Support an
increase in Standing Committee membership if budgetary implications can
be resolved. The Standing Committee is currently composed of six
Regional voting representatives of North America (Canada), Central and
South America and the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago, the Vice Chair),
Asia (Thailand), Oceania (New Zealand, the Chair), Africa (Senegal),
and Europe (Sweden). There are also three ex officio, nonvoting
members: Switzerland (depositary country), Japan (past host country),
and the United States (current host country). Each CITES Region
currently has one representative on the Standing Committee, regardless
of how large or small the number of Parties (Africa has 43 CITES
parties, for example, while North America has only 3 and Oceania only
4). A proposal submitted by Malawi but not yet actually reviewed would
increase the number of Regional representatives from Regions having
larger numbers of Parties. The United States will consider support for
such proposals depending on their exact nature and only after full
consideration by the Budget Committee of their financial effects.
- Election of new members and alternate regional members:
Encourage membership which will continue the active role of the
Standing Committee. The Regional representatives of North America,
Europe, and Oceania are open for review by their respective Regions at
COP9. The United States, as host of COP9, will continue on the Standing
Committee as past host country until COP10. A new Chair will be
selected by the new Standing Committee during a meeting to be held at
the close of COP9; while the United States will not have a vote, the
U.S. position is to encourage selection of a Chair with a strong
commitment to a proactive Standing Committee role in the management of
CITES affairs, as New Zealand has done during the past two years.
X. Report of the Secretariat
The Report of the Secretariat has not yet been received by the
Service. When received, the Service will carefully review issues
pertaining to: success of procedures for Parties to set budgetary and
work priorities; setting of new short-term and long-term objectives for
the Secretariat; evaluation of the performance of the Secretariat; and
progress in assisting Parties to more forcefully implement the
Convention.
The biennial report provides the major way for the Secretariat, and
the Secretary General, to report priorities, accomplishments, and
problems to the Parties. These are critical management issues facing
CITES which need to be addressed in the Secretariat's report.
XI. Financing and budgeting of the Secretariat and of meetings of the
Conference of the Parties
- Financial Report for 1992-1993
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time. The United States continues to
advocate fiscal responsibility and accountability.
- Anticipated expenditures for 1994 and 1995
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time. The United States continues to
advocate fiscal responsibility and accountability.
- Budget for 1996-1998 and Medium-term Plan for 1996-2000
See Doc. 9.10--Budget Estimates for the CITES Trust Fund for 1996-
1997 and for the Medium-term Plan for 1996-2000. This document was only
received a short time ago by the Service, and is still undergoing
review.
Oppose any substantial increase in the Secretariat's budget
representing a significant increase in its work plan. Support budget
increases requested by the Secretariat in cases where the growing
membership is placing increasing burdens on staff, without any
commitment to an increased U.S. contribution. Support an evaluation of
priorities and possible reprogramming of budget items into underfunded
or unfunded areas of higher priority.
The United States cannot at present commit to a larger contribution
to the CITES budget. The United States is the largest single
contributor; under the United Nations scale, the United States is asked
to provide 25 percent of the annual operating budget. In Fiscal Year
1994, Congress appropriated approximately $1 million to the Department
of State for this purpose. However, the United States recognizes the
heavier workload being imposed on the Secretariat, Standing Committee,
and both the Animals and Plants Committees.
- External Funding
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
External funding refers to the financial support by Party
governments and non-governmental organizations for projects that have
been approved by the Standing Committee. The CITES Parties have
established a process whereby the Standing Committee approves projects
and approves donors, to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of
interest. The Secretariat's report on this issue is expected to
summarize approved donors, approved projects, projects that have been
funded, and approved projects that are awaiting funding. The Service,
the Department of State, and the National Marine Fisheries Service have
made substantial contributions to externally funded projects, including
travel of delegates from developing countries to COPs, support for
committee meetings, facilitating a meeting of the Working Group on the
Transport of Live Specimens, biological studies of significantly traded
species, review of national laws for the implementation of the
Convention, numerous enforcement-related projects, and other similar
projects.
XII. Committee Reports and Recommendations
- Animals Committee
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet. This
agenda item has two subitems in the provisional agenda:
(a) Report of the Chairman
(b) Regional representation on the Animals Committee
The United States supports the active role of the Animals Committee
in scientific and management issues pertaining to animal species listed
in the CITES Appendices. Encourage membership which will continue the
active role of the Animals Committee, and selection of a Chair with a
strong commitment to a proactive Animals Committee.
The Animals Committee report may contain information or
recommendations dealing with Appendix II species subject to significant
trade, marking techniques, crocodilian tagging, sea turtle ranching,
care for and reintroduction of seized live animals, and various other
issues. The United States has actively participated in the work of the
Animals Committee since COP8, and will continue to be an active
participant in Animals Committee functions.
The Animals Committee is currently composed of individuals
representing the six CITES geographic regions: North America, Central
and South America and the Caribbean, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and Europe.
Each CITES Region currently has one representative on the Animals
Committee. The Regional representatives are selected by their
respective regional caucuses, at the COP. A new Chair will be selected
by the new Animals Committee, most likely during a meeting to be held
at the close of COP9.
- Plants Committee
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet. The
United States supports the continued activities of the Plants Committee
to improve the effectiveness of CITES for plants, with a focus on the
following: publication of checklists and identification guides;
significant trade in orchids, succulents, and other species; review of
the timber trade; and trade in artificially propagated plants.
Encourage membership which will continue the active role of the Plants
Committee, and selection of a Chair with a strong commitment to a
proactive Plants Committee.
The Plants Committee is currently composed of individuals
representing the six CITES geographic regions: North America, Central
and South America and the Caribbean, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and Europe.
Each CITES Region currently has one representative on the Plants
Committee. Dr. Bruce MacBryde of the Service's Office of Scientific
Authority serves as Vice-Chair of the Plants Committee (representing
North America). The Regional representatives are selected by their
respective regional caucuses, at the COP. A Chair will be selected by
the new Plants Committee, most likely during a meeting to be held at
the close of COP9.
- Identification Manual Committee
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
Continue to support the Identification Manual Committee and
development of animal and plant identification manuals for use by port
and border enforcement officers, in providing a standard of reference
for the identification of CITES species, within available resources and
priorities.
The enforcement officers of the Parties must be equipped with
guides which are accurate, realistic, and helpful in the identification
of the many CITES species and products found in trade throughout the
world.
- Nomenclature Committee
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet. This
agenda item has two subitems in the provisional agenda:
(a) Report of the Chairman
(b) Recommendations of the Committee
Encourage the development and adoption of checklists for all taxa,
within budgetary limits and priorities to be decided upon by the
Parties. Support revisions of existing checklists for fauna prior to
development of new ones. Because of the expense in developing
checklists for taxa, the United States supports recognition of existing
checklists for remaining taxa when suitable. Implementation of the
Convention is strengthened by the use of uniform names of listed
species.
The Service understands that the report of the Chair presents
technical nomenclatural corrections and recommended revisions to names
included in the Appendices at the Plenipotentiary Conference and at
COP1. Those revisions will require adoption by the Parties at COP9.
XIII. Evolution of the Convention
- Strategic Plan of the Secretariat
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
- How To Improve the Effectiveness of the Convention
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
This agenda item was suggested by the delegate from Canada at the
March 1994 Standing Committee meeting; the Standing Committee agreed
that a review of the general evolution and implementation of CITES
should by done by an independent body, and that a project proposal for
this review should be developed by the Secretariat. The main concern of
the United States is what funding will be available for such a project,
and that it not impair the ability of other functions in the
Secretariat budget to receive necessary funding.
XIV. Interpretation and Implementation of the Convention
- Review of the Resolutions of the Conference of the Parties
Support the effort begun by the Secretariat immediately following
COP8, at the direction of the Standing Committee, to review all of the
resolutions of the Conference of the Parties with the goal of assisting
Parties in the effective utilization of the resolutions, in order to
more effectively implement the Convention, by: (1) Deleting resolutions
that have been superseded or whose purpose has been accomplished; and
(2) consolidating resolutions that deal with the same subject.
At every Standing Committee meeting since COP8, the United States
delegation has strongly urged (and the Committee has adopted this
recommendation of the United States) that any consolidation of
resolutions retain the text of the original, including the preamble, so
as to: (1) assist the Parties, while retaining the original intent of
the resolution; and (2) reduce unnecessary or unproductive debate at
COP9 on ``old'' issues. Therefore, the United States supports deleting
only out-of-date resolutions that are truly non-controversial, and
retaining the text of the original for any consolidations. The Standing
Committee reiterated its support for this approach at its March 1994
meeting. The United States supports an expedited approval of these
consolidations in Plenary Session at COP9, which will only be possible
if the original text of resolutions (preamble and operative paragraphs)
are retained, so that any consolidations will be structural and not
substantive.
(a) Deletion of Resolutions that are out of date. See Doc. 9.19.1--
Deletion of Resolutions that are Out of Date.
Support the deletion of resolutions that are out of date, if they
have been superseded by other resolutions or have been overtaken by
events. Likely to support the deletion of all resolutions proposed by
the Secretariat and circulated to the Parties, with the following
exceptions: Conf. 2.8, 3.13, and those relating to certain parts and
derivatives of plants--Conf. 2.18, 4.24, 6.18, and 8.17 (b) and (c).
Certain other resolutions on plants remain pertinent unless they are
superseded by new resolutions coming from COP9, e.g., Conf. 5.15 in
relation to Doc. 9.30 on nursery registration.
Technical review of Doc. 9.19.1 will continue and the U.S. may
offer further comment on the affected resolutions before or during the
COP. The United States supports deletions of resolutions that are out
of date or no longer relevant. However, recent discussions in the
International Whaling Commission (IWC) highlight the fact that illegal
trade in whale products continues, in spite of the IWC's moratorium on
commercial whaling.
The United States has requested that this item be discussed at COP9
(see agenda item 15). The IWC has not yet completed an observation,
inspection and enforcement program which would certify that the
products of any commercial whaling which occurs in the future are taken
in compliance with IWC regulations. Therefore, the admonitions
contained in Resolutions Conf. 2.8 and 3.13 appear to the United States
to be as pertinent today as when they were adopted by the Parties.
These resolutions are neither out of date, nor have they been
superseded. Therefore, the United States opposes deletion of these
resolutions.
The United States opposes deletion of the aspects pertaining to
plants in Conf. 2.18, 4.24, 6.18, and 8.17(b) and 8.17(c), which
provide an important legal basis, which is different from using a
limited departure from Conf. 5.9 on what is readily recognizable, to
guide the standard exclusion or exemption from CITES provisions of
certain specified parts and derivatives of certain plants, e.g., the
cut flowers of artificially propagated Appendix I hybrids and the
flasked seedlings of all artificially propagated orchids.
Future germane proposals on taxa for Appendix I simply can be
directed by Conf. 8.17(b) and 8.17(c), without subsequent proposals on
the standard exemptions. Future proposals to uplist orchid taxa thus
would be routinely guided by Conf. 8.17(c) and their flasked seedlings
would be exempt. A similar process has been in effect for the proposals
on Appendix II plant taxa, where routinely certain parts or derivatives
are standard exclusions, as specified through Conf. 4.24 (e.g., for
tissue cultures) and Conf. 6.18 (e.g., for flasked seedling cultures).
(b) Consolidation of valid resolutions. No document has been
received from the CITES Secretariat yet. However, documents have been
received at several Standing Committee meetings. The United States
essentially supports those consolidations prepared thus far by the
Secretariat; a review finds them to be a diligent and accurate
consolidation of a complex array of resolutions dealing with the same
subject. Proposed consolidations have been discussed at Standing
Committee meetings and approved for transmission to the Parties on the
following issues (final text has not yet been received from the
Secretariat, however): Transport of live specimens (consolidate Conf.
3.16, 4.20, 5.18, 7.13, and 8.12); Disposal of illegally traded
specimens (consolidate Conf. 2.15, 3.9, 3.14, 4.17, 4.18, 5.14, and
7.6); Trade in elephant ivory (consolidate Conf. 3.12, 6.12, 6.14,
6.15, 6.16, and 7.8); Annual reports and trade monitoring (consolidate
Conf. 2.16, 3.10, 5.5, 5.6, 5.14, and 8.7); Trade in readily
recognizable parts and derivatives (consolidate Conf. 4.8, 5.9, 5.22,
and 6.22); Permits and certificates (consolidate Conf. 3.6, 3.7, 4.9,
4.16, 5.7, 5.8, 5.15, 6.6, 8.5); Trade in plants (12 prior resolutions:
consolidate Conf. 2.13, 5.14, 5.15, 8.17, propose to repeal all or part
of Conf. 2.18, 4.24, 5.14, 6.18, and 6.20, and deal with Conf. 2.14,
4.16, and parts of 5.14, 8.18, 8.19 in a separate consolidation); Trade
with non-Parties and reserving Parties (consolidate Conf. 3.8, 8.8);
and Transit and transhipment (consolidate Conf. 4.10, 7.4).
- Establishment of a List of the Other Decisions of the Conference of
the Parties
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
Support ongoing Standing Committee and Secretariat efforts to
differentiate between Resolutions of the Conference of the Parties
which provide guidance and interpretation of the Convention, or call
for continuing activities of indefinite duration, and decisions of the
COP that direct the Secretariat or permanent committees to perform
certain specific activities of limited duration.
The Standing Committee has recommended that decisions of the
Parties at the COP be distributed in a manner similar to that for
resolutions. The United States supports this procedure, utilizing
guidelines to be adopted by the COP, that have been approved by the
Standing Committee. Often, recommendations to the Secretariat or
permanent committees are included in resolutions, when these
recommendations are relevant for a particular committee only, or for a
short time period between two COPs only. The United States supports
separating these specific and/or short-term decisions from resolutions,
wherein resolutions should refer to recommendations for implementation
of the Convention, and interpretations of the Convention.
- Report on National Reports Under Article VIII, Paragraph 7, of the
Convention
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
Support efforts to encourage all Parties to submit annual reports,
for all species of flora and fauna, consistent with their domestic
legislation. Support efforts whereby proposals for transfer of certain
species from Appendix I to II with an export quota or pursuant to
ranching only be considered for Parties that are current with their
annual report submissions.
Each Party is required by the Convention to submit an annual report
containing a summary of the permits it has granted, and the types and
numbers of specimens of species in the CITES Appendices that it has
imported and exported. Accurate report data are essential to measure
the impact of international trade on species, and can be a useful
enforcement tool.
- Review of Alleged Infractions and Other Problems of Implementation
of the Convention
See Doc. 9.22--Draft Infractions Report for COP9.
Support the Secretariat's review of alleged infractions by the
Parties, and necessary and appropriate recommendations to obtain wider
compliance with the terms of the Convention. Support an open discussion
at COP9 of major infractions, and a greater emphasis by the Parties on
the enforcement of the laws and regulations implementing the
Convention.
Article XIII of the Convention provides for COP review of alleged
infractions. The Secretariat prepares an Infractions Report for each
COP, which details instances that the Convention is not being
effectively implemented, or where trade is adversely affecting a
species. The first draft of the Infractions Report contains numerous
such alleged infractions. The United States has commented on the draft
Infractions Report. A cursory review of the alleged infractions
indicates a great difference in the depth of the reporting on
infractions over previous reports. The United States considers this to
be an excellent, well-researched and well-prepared Secretariat
document. A large number of infractions are caused by lack of training,
lack of personnel, or lack of knowledge on the workings of CITES. The
majority of the alleged infractions should be a major cause of concern
to the Parties. When the final Infractions Report (incorporating the
comments of Parties) is circulated by the Secretariat, it will be
available to the public upon request.
- Implementation of the Convention in the European Community
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
This issue was discussed extensively at COP8; absent any document,
the United States cannot formulate a position at this time.
- National Laws for Implementation of the Convention
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
The United States was strongly supportive at COP8 of a review of
national laws for the implementation of the Convention; such laws are
required by Article VIII of the Convention. The Service provided
funding for this project, and has already received reviews of national
legislation for several countries. The United States believes that the
Convention's effectiveness is undermined when Party states do not have
national laws implementing the Convention, including laws and
regulations that authorize seizure and/or forfeiture of specimens
imported or exported in contravention of the Convention, and laws and
regulations that provide appropriate penalties for such violations.
- Enforcement of the Convention
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
complete position is possible at this time. Support establishment of a
Law Enforcement Network.
Notification to the Parties number 776 asked the Parties for their
comments on a proposal for establishment of a Law Enforcement Network.
The United States supported establishment of such a network at that
time, and continues to do so. The United States will continue its
support for the provision of law enforcement training to assist Parties
in implementing and enforcing the Convention.
Nine Parties responded to Notification 776, which asked the Parties
for their comments on the proposed Law Enforcement Network, as follows:
five countries (Australia, South Africa, Switzerland, the United
Kingdom, and the United States) supported the proposal; three countries
(Belgium, France and Uruguay) opposed the proposal; and one country
(Spain) was neutral. Although it was not adopted by the Standing
Committee, it was agreed that the Parties should discuss the issue at
the COP. The United States considers effective enforcement of the
Convention to be a critical element that is lacking for many countries,
for a number of reasons, including: lack of training, inadequate
legislation or regulations, lack of funding, lack of infrastructure,
and inadequate communications and networking with other countries and
entities. The United States believes that establishment of a Law
Enforcement Network, comparable to other committees or working groups
established by the Parties, will begin the process of alleviating these
deficiencies.
- Trade in Hunting Trophies of Species Listed in Appendix I
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat. The
United States continues to support implementation of Resolution Conf.
2.11 by all Parties.
- Exports of Leopard Hunting Trophies and Skins
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
However, the United States opposes any increases in quotas without
adequate supporting data.
The Service does not know whether this document will involve only a
report on exports, or whether it will be similar to Resolution Conf.
8.10, which refers to the trade in leopard skins, including hunting
trophies, under a quota system approved by the COP. Trade in leopard
skins for noncommercial purposes is allowed under CITES Resolution
Conf. 8.10, which recognizes killing in defense of life and property
and to enhance the survival of the species.
- Interpretation and Application of Quotas
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
- Trade in Specimens of Species Transferred to Appendix II Subject to
Annual Export Quotas
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time. In the past, this agenda item has
involved a report noting compliance with provisions of quota systems.
- Trade in Rhinoceros Specimens
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
The United States continues to be an advocate for strong
enforcement of the Convention, and use of all possible measures to
encourage countries to effectively implement the Convention. The United
States continues to support decisions of the Standing Committee that
illegal trade in rhinoceros specimens undermines the effectiveness of
CITES.
- Conservation of Rhinoceros in Asia and Africa
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
The United States continues to be supportive of efforts to benefit
the conservation of rhinoceros species in Asia and Africa, while
realizing that such conservation efforts are seriously undermined by
any trade in rhinoceros specimens in contravention of the Convention.
- Trade in Tiger Specimens
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
The United States continues to be an advocate for strong
enforcement of the Convention, and use of all possible measures to
encourage countries to effectively implement the Convention. The United
States continues to support decisions of the Standing Committee that
illegal trade in tiger specimens undermines the effectiveness of CITES.
The United States is also exploring the possibility of having a special
evening program on tiger conservation during the Conference.
- Illegal Trade in Whale Meat
The United States requested that this item be included on the
agenda for COP9, and will submit a paper to the CITES Secretariat for
transmission to the Parties prior to COP9.
There was extensive discussion at the May, 1994 meeting in Mexico
of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) regarding illegal
international trade in whale meat, including involvement by CITES
Parties. All whales subject to the IWC moratorium on commercial harvest
are listed in CITES Appendix I. A resolution was adopted by IWC
(introduced by the United States and other Parties) on this topic, and
the issue is discussed in the IWC Infractions Report. The Service
submitted the information in the IWC Infractions Report on
international trade in whale meat to the CITES Secretariat. The United
States is concerned that illegal trade in whale meat undermines the
effectiveness of CITES for whale species, and will submit a paper on
this topic for discussion at COP9. Several IWC member countries raised
concerns at the IWC meeting that it was inappropriate to discuss trade
in whale specimens outside of CITES. While a CITES COP is the
appropriate venue for such discussions, the U.S. paper will encourage
IWC to continue to explore this issue, and to report on progress to
both the CITES Standing Committee and COP10.
- Trade in Shark Products
The United States requested that this item be included on the
agenda for COP9, and will submit a paper to the CITES Secretariat for
transmission to the Parties prior to COP9. The United States will
request in that paper that this agenda item be renamed ``Trade in Shark
Parts and Products'', in order to more accurately frame the debate. It
is not the intent of that document to discuss shark management regimes,
including catch quotas, minimum sizes, time and area closures, or gear
restrictions.
As was discussed in the January 27, 1994 Federal Register notice,
the United States considered whether or not to submit a proposal to
COP9 to include several taxa (families or genera) of sharks in Appendix
II. There is limited information about a recent increase in
international trade in shark parts and products, particularly in fins
for the food market. The United States considered there to be
insufficient scientific and trade data on which to base a listing
proposal. The United States believes that this is an important issue
for the Parties to discuss. The United States is considering requesting
that the Animals Committee be called upon to recommend methods and
processes for assessing the biological and trade status of shark
species in international trade. The paper that the United States will
submit may request action by the Animals Committee.
The intent of the United States in asking that this issue be
discussed by the Conference of the Parties is twofold: (1) To encourage
discussion of how best to collect data on international trade in shark
parts and products, particularly how to document catches by species;
and (2) to collect data that will provide the best information about
the impact of international trade (including introduction from the sea)
in shark parts and products on both shark populations and the
ecosystems on which they depend.
- Trade in Plant Specimens
(a) Nursery registration for artificially propagated Appendix I
species. See Doc. 9.30--Nursery Registration for Artificially
Propagated Appendix I Species.
Tentatively oppose the resolution establishing a stipulated
registration system within the CITES Secretariat for plant nurseries
artificially propagating specimens of species included in Appendix I.
The United States supports a system that would improve the credibility
of the existing system for determining which plant specimens are
artificially propagated.
The registration system proposed in this draft resolution is
complex and would be costly to implement by many Parties. Furthermore,
it may place too much of a burden with nurseries themselves in
determining what constitutes artificially propagated specimens, and
thereby be counterproductive. The current draft of this resolution is
an improvement over previous versions, and the United States encourages
the Secretariat to continue to make progress in this important area.
(b) Revision of the consolidated Resolution. No document has been
received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no position is possible at
this time.
(c) Standard reference for Orchidaceae. No document has been
received from the CITES Secretariat yet. The United States supports
continued work toward a standard reference for traded orchid species.
(d) Implementation of the Convention for timber species. No
document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no position
is possible at this time.
However, the United States notes that the provisions of CITES apply
to all species of wild fauna and flora, including tree species used as
timber; some timber species are already listed in the CITES Appendices.
CITES' purview is in addition to the fact that the trade in timber
species may come under the competence of another international treaty,
convention, or agreement.
(e) Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus). No document has been received from
the CITES Secretariat yet; no position is possible at this time.
- Significant Trade in Appendix II Species
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
However, the United States continues its long-standing support for
the continued focus of the Parties on Appendix II species identified as
subject to significant trade and the proper implementation of Article
IV, as critical to the implementation of the treaty and species
conservation. Support the provision of funding for the coordination and
implementation of significant trade study projects, with oversight by
the Animals, Plants, and Standing Committees.
This topic refers to the trade in those Appendix II species
identified as subject to significant trade, for which a review is
necessary to determine if there exists sufficient biological
information to warrant trade at current levels. Many of these species
may have been traded at levels detrimental to their survival. The CITES
Parties have provided funds to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and
the Conservation Monitoring Centre to assess priorities in studying
these species. The United States has provided funds for field projects
involving several of these species.
This process has worked effectively since COP8, with the
implementation of Conf. 8.9. The Animals and Standing Committees have
taken a very active role in this process, with net benefit for the
conservation of some species and for improvements in the implementation
of the Convention. The United States supports continuation of this
process, for both animals and plants, with a high priority being placed
on implementation of studies by Parties, scientific assessments,
implementation of scientifically-based quotas when appropriate, and
effective implementation of Article IV.
- Standardization of CITES Permits and Certificates
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
- Non-commercial Samples of Skins
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
- Marking of Crocodilian Specimens
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
At COP8, the United States advocated adoption of a resolution that
it submitted jointly with Australia, to require the skins of all
crocodilian species to be tagged before being allowed to be traded by
CITES Parties (whether or not a reservation has been entered by a
Party).
Resolution Conf. 8.14, submitted by both the United States and
Australia, established the framework for a system of universal marking
for all crocodilian skins in trade, as a response to serious problems
of illegal trade in crocodilian skins, parts, and products. The Animals
Committee was charged with setting up the system for the Parties. The
Animals Committee has prepared a revision of Resolution Conf. 8.14 on
this topic, due to problems with implementation of portions of the
resolution. The draft resolution of the Animals Committee has not yet
been received from the CITES Secretariat.
- Transport of Live Specimens
Support the adoption by the COP of the report of the Chair of the
Working Group on the Transport of Live Specimens (TWG). The United
States will remain an active participant in the TWG, and with all
aspects of the transport of live wild animals.
Dr. Susan Lieberman of the Service's Office of Management Authority
has served as Chair of the TWG since COP8. Copies of all reports of the
Chair of the TWG to the Standing Committee are available on request,
including the Terms of Reference of the TWG. The Chair submitted a
report to the Standing Committee Chair and to the Secretariat, for
transmission to the Parties and discussion at COP9. That report makes
recommendations for the future of the TWG. The Service fully supports
the report, and recommends its adoption, with the exception of
reserving its position on adoption of budgetary and personal
recommendations of the Chair contained therein. Those budgetary
recommendations would facilitate increased training efforts and greater
involvement of exporting Parties in TWG activities and deliberations,
which the Service supports. The Service also supports the provision of
time near the beginning of the first week of COP9 for those interested
in the TWG to meet and discuss transport issues, prior to full
discussion in Committee II. Several past participants in TWG activities
have inquired as to whether such a meeting of the TWG would be
possible; the Service believes that it would be in the best interest of
CITES implementation and of the transport of live animals.
The humane transport of live wild animals remains a significant
concern of the United States. The TWG's Terms of Reference with the
Standing Committee include working to improve implementation of the
Convention and relevant resolutions, training, improvement of
international standards, coordination with the International Air
Transport Association Live Animals Board, and the transport of live
wild birds.
- Implementation of Article XIV, Paragraphs 4 and 5
Support adoption of the resolution submitted by the United States,
which deals with the implementation of Article XIV, paragraphs 4 and 5
of the Convention. The U.S. goal in submitting this resolution is to
clarify how an Appendix II listing could be implemented expeditiously
for a marine species whose management is under the competency of a preexisting
treaty.
The provisions of CITES apply to all species of wild fauna and
flora, including marine species. The management of many marine species
comes under the jurisdiction or competence of another international
treaty, convention, or agreement. International trade in any species of
marine fauna or flora is also within the purview and competence of
CITES. Therefore, even if a marine species is subject to management
under another international treaty, convention, or agreement, if it is
listed in any CITES Appendix, international trade and introduction from
the sea in the species is regulated by CITES.
CITES made preparation for such situations when the treaty was
written. Article XIV, paragraph 4, of the Convention provides that a
State party to CITES, which is also a party to any other treaty,
convention, or international agreement which was in force at the time
of the coming into force of CITES and under the provisions of which
protection is afforded to marine species included in Appendix II, is
relieved of the obligations imposed on it under CITES with respect to
trade in specimens included in Appendix II that are taken by ships
registered in that State and in accordance with the provisions of such
other treaty, convention, or international agreement.
This relief from CITES obligations does not apply to specimens of
species included in Appendix I. For example, several whale species are
managed under the competence of the International Convention for the
Regulation of Whaling, but all those species are listed in Appendix I.
Currently no marine species whose management is under the
competence of another treaty, convention, or agreement is listed in
Appendix II. Therefore, this provision of the Convention in Article XIV
has never been used, and standards for its implementation have not been
developed. The United States has determined that it would be wise to
plan for the need to implement Article XIV, by specifying requirements
for certificates issued pursuant to Article XIV, paragraph 5, of the
Convention, even if its use is not necessary at this time. The Service
notes that Appendix II allows for international commercial trade. The
resolution provides for the utilization as a valid certificate under
Article XIV, paragraph 5, of a certificate of origin or statistical
document issued on the authority of the other treaty, convention, or
international agreement, with certain stipulations of minimum
information and validation as required by CITES.
Such certificates are only an option for CITES Parties that are
also parties to the other treaty, convention, or agreement.
- Disposal of Confiscated Live Animals
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
This issue was discussed at the Animals Committee, and the Service
believes that the Animals Committee prepared a draft resolution that
will be discussed at COP9. The Service has not yet received the final
draft resolution prepared by the Animals Committee. However, the
Service is supportive of uniform guidelines for the Parties on how to
deal with confiscated live animals, that will benefit both the welfare
of the individual animals and the conservation of their species in the
wild. The Service is supportive of such guidelines, consistent with
U.S. law. The Service is concerned about the risk of introduction of
disease to wild populations from confiscated live animals being
considered for reintroduction programs. The Service believes that
transport and handling concerns for live animals should be coordinated
with the Working Group on the Transport of Live Animals.
Interest in what Parties should do with confiscated specimens,
particularly live animals, goes back to the drafting of the Convention.
The re-export of Appendix II specimens does not require a Scientific
Authority finding. The Parties have spoken quite clearly on the issue
of return of confiscated specimens to the country of origin, when
feasible.
- Disposal of Skins of Illegal Origin
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet; no
position is possible at this time.
- New Criteria for Amendment of Appendices I and II
See Doc. 9.41--New Criteria for Amendment of Appendices I and II.
Support adoption of the alternative Annexes submitted by the United
States on this issue, rather than those prepared by the Standing
Committee (as pertain to Annexes 1 and 2 of the draft resolution). The
United States basically supports the other annexes of the Standing
Committee resolution.
The existing CITES listing criteria, known as the ``Berne
Criteria'' (Resolutions Conf. 1.1 and 1.2) were developed at the first
CITES Conference in 1976 in Berne, Switzerland. The United States
agrees that the Convention will be strengthened by reevaluating the
Berne Criteria for listing species in the Appendices, and that the
Berne Criteria need to be reviewed and adapted to address a broader
array of taxa and to be more descriptive and definitive, to the extent
possible. At the same time, the United States notes that an inherent
strength of CITES, which must be safeguarded, is its ability to seek
balanced conservation-based solutions for a broad range of species and
populations being considered. Thus, if any revision of the Berne
Criteria is to be adopted at COP9, the United States is supportive of
retaining maximal flexibility while firmly maintaining scientific
credibility.
The move to revise the Berne Criteria originated at the 1992 CITES
Conference, in Japan (COP8). At COP8 the Parties agreed to start a
process, coordinated by the Standing Committee, to develop a
scientifically sound revision for consideration at COP9 in 1994. The
World Conservation Union (IUCN) was asked to do a first draft, which
would first be reviewed at a joint meeting of the Standing, Animals and
Plants Committees, and put into CITES resolution form. The United
States participated in a joint meeting of the Standing, Animals, and
Plants Committees in Brussels in August-September 1993, which reviewed
the IUCN draft and produced a draft resolution that was circulated to
the Parties.
The Service submitted comments to the Standing Committee, after
consultation with other Federal agencies and reviewing extensive public
comments received. The U.S. comments maintained that much of the draft
resolution was not valid scientifically, and was not acceptable from
management or practical perspectives. The United States believed that
the criteria as proposed met neither the CITES treaty's requirements
for the conservation of species in their ecosystems, nor the diverse
needs of the CITES Parties. The U.S. comments and those of other
Parties were discussed at the 31st meeting of the Standing Committee,
in Geneva in March 1994. Some of the U.S. comments were taken into
consideration in developing the final Standing Committee draft
resolution. The Standing Committee resolution was not available to the
United States or other CITES Parties until after the June 10 deadline
for submission of resolutions and proposals to the CITES Secretariat.
The Standing Committee resolution contains six annexes, several of
which the United States looks forward to discussing further with the
CITES Parties at COP9. In particular, the United States believes the
Standing Committee draft is an improvement on the Berne Criteria as
regards precautionary measures. However, the United States believes
that Annex 1 (Biological criteria for Appendix I) and Annex 2 (Criteria
for inclusion of species in Appendix II) are in need of major revision,
particularly from a scientific perspective. The United States is
particularly concerned about the utility and scientific validity of
arbitrary numerical cutoffs for decision-making on which Appendix a
species should be included in. After detailed review of the scientific
literature and consultation with other Federal agencies, the United
States has submitted alternatives to those Annexes to the Secretariat,
along with some additional material for inclusion in the resolution.
The U.S. intent is to urge the CITES Parties to substitute the Annexes
1 and 2 it submitted for those prepared by the Standing Committee.
The United States could have waited to present these alternative
Annexes 1 and 2 at COP9. However, the United States preferred to
provide ample time to Parties to review this proposed alternative to
the document submitted to the Parties by the Standing Committee. The
United States believes that increased flexibility must be included in
any revised listing criteria.
The biological criteria submitted by the United States for
inclusion of species in Appendix I (Annex 1) are grounded in the
scientific literature, and are based on the concept that determination
of whether a species is threatened with extinction should be risk
averse, utilizing the best available scientific and trade information,
and assessment of a series of biological factors and criteria. The
proposed Annex 1 lists a series of interdependent factors to be
included in an assessment of the status of a species, and thereby the
determination that it is threatened with extinction. The criteria for
inclusion of species in Annex 2 (in accordance with Article II
paragraph 2(a)) of the Convention involve a determination of whether a
species may become threatened with extinction, in order to avoid
utilization incompatible with its survival.
The Service received numerous comments recommending that the United
States submit an alternative to the Standing Committee draft
resolution. Several comments provided detailed analyses of the IUCN
submission to the Secretariat, and of the resolution submitted to the
Parties prior to the 31st meeting of the Standing Committee. These
comments were taken into consideration by the Service and other Federal
agencies.
- Inclusion of Species in Appendix III
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
However, the Service is aware that a resolution on this issue has been
prepared by the Animals Committee. The Service is supportive of urging
of more judicious use of Appendix III, including recommending direct
consultation with the Animals or Plants Committee and a review of
existing Appendix III listings.
The CITES Secretariat has been working to screen Appendix III
proposals and consult with the submitting Party.
- Guidelines for Evaluating Marine Turtle Ranching Proposals
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
However, the United States participated in a working group at the ninth
meeting of the Animals Committee in Brussels in September, 1993 which
developed draft guidelines for recommendation to the Animals Committee
on this issue. The ninth meeting of the Animals Committee adopted a
requirement for ``regional management on the basis of genetically
defined populations''. The United States strongly supported that
element, which may have been removed by a subsequent meeting of the
Animals Committee. The United States remains supportive of regional
cooperation in the management of such widely migratory endangered
species as marine turtles.
- Proposals To Register the First Commercial Captive-breeding
Operation for an Appendix I Animal Species
No document has been received from the CITES Secretariat yet.
- Standard Nomenclature
Support adoption of the resolution submitted by the United States,
which was submitted at the request of the Nomenclature Committee.
This resolution was submitted at the request of the CITES
Nomenclature Committee, and deals with nomenclature and taxonomy of
CITES species. The resolution submitted was discussed and agreed upon
by the Nomenclature Committee at its May, 1994 meeting in Beijing,
China. The names of the genera and species of several families are in
need of standardization and the current lack of a standard reference
with adequate information creates an implementation problem for some
species. The United States also recognizes that the taxonomy used in
the appendices to the Convention will be most useful to the Parties if
standardized and correlated by nomenclatorial references.
This resolution makes several recommendations dealing with the
inclusion of subspecies in the Appendices, use of references in
proposals, synonyms, and the role of the Scientific Authorities in
nomenclature issues. The resolution also recommends several standard
references for species listed in the CITES Appendices, for mammals,
birds, amphibians, cacti, cycads, tree ferns, and other plants.
XV. Consideration of Proposals for Amendment of Appendices I and II
See the Federal Register notice published on September 6, 1994 (59
FR 46023), which sets forth summaries of the proposed U.S. negotiating
positions on the proposals for amendment to the CITES Appendices for
COP9 and requests information and comments from the public on these
proposed U.S. positions.
XVI. Conclusion of the meeting
- Determination of the Time and Venue of the Next Regular Meeting of
the Conference of the Parties
No documents have been received indicating requests from possible
host governments. Favor holding COP10 in a country where all Parties
will be admitted without political difficulties. Support the holding of
COPs on a biennial basis, or, as in the case of COP9, after an interval
of two and one half years.
COP meetings energize governmental and nongovernmental
organizations concerned with CITES issues to examine its
implementation, and the conservation of affected species. The United
States recognizes that the financial burdens of hosting a Conference of
the Parties may serve to discourage developing countries from offering
to serve as host, unless innovative ways can be found to provide them
with financial assistance.
Request for Information and Comments
The Service invites information and comments on the proposed
negotiating positions on COP9 agenda items, excluding item XV,
``Consideration of proposals for amendment of Appendices I and II,''
which is the subject of a separate Federal Register notice. Information
and comments on this present notice should be submitted to the Service
no later than October 19, 1994.
Observers
Article XI, paragraph 7 of the Convention provides that: ``Any body
or agency technically qualified in protection, conservation or
management of wild fauna and flora, in the following categories, which
has informed the Secretariat of its desire to be represented at
meetings of the Conference by observers, shall be admitted unless at
least one-third of the Parties object: (a) International agencies or
bodies, either governmental or non-governmental, and national
governmental agencies and bodies; and (b) national non-governmental
agencies or bodies which have been approved for this purposes by the
State in which they are located. Once admitted, these observers shall
have the right to participate but not to vote.''
Persons wishing to be observers representing national nongovernmental
organizations in the United States must receive prior
approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Requests for such
approval should include evidence of technical qualification in
protection, conservation or management of wild fauna or flora, on the
part of both the organization and the individual representative. Such
requests should be sent to the Office of Management Authority (see
ADDRESSES, above). Copies of the letters of approval from the Office of
Management Authority should be used by these organizations to inform
the CITES Secretariat of their wish to send observers to the meeting.
The Secretariat requires such information to be received at least one
month prior to the meeting (October 6, 1994).
Approved observers should send copies of their letters of approval
to the following address: CITES Secretariat, 15 chemin des Anemones,
Case postale 456, CH-1219 Chatelaine-Geneve, Switzerland.
Authors: This notice was prepared by Susan S. Lieberman,
Marshall P. Jones, and Mark Albert, Office of Management Authority,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (703/358-2093).
Dated: September 28, 1994.
Bruce Blanchard,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 94-24513 Filed 10-3-94; 8:45 am]
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