Tag: cop17

After over five years of Article XIII proceedings, the CITES Standing Committee should consider finally suspending trade with Laos

After years of anticipation, months of preparation and two hectic weeks in South Africa, the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) draws to a close. Here's a summary of some of the key outcomes of the conference

Botswana made a clear statement against ivory trade at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species when it announced it would voluntarily relinquish Appendix II status for its own elephants to support up-listing all African elephants to the much tougher Appendix I

During discussions at the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to CITES, several member states including Lao PDR overruled a proposal from China to delete a Decision to end tiger farming. This is a powerful message that shows the rest of the world can see that tiger farming has no place in tiger conservation.

183 countries at the CITES 17th Conference of the Parties agreed to boost protection for dalbergia rosewoods. The Committee session introduced three separate Dalbergia proposals, all met with overwhelming support by the Parties which demonstrated a greater awareness of the threats posed by illegal logging and trade

At the CITES CoP17 meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, countries pledged to do more to curb poaching and illicit trade in totoaba fish which threatens the survival of the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. This is a positive sign but international cooperation is vital to ensure enforcement actions take place.