CITES/SC-61

Meeting from 15-19 August, the 61st session of the CITES Standing Committee considered a complex agenda. While underlying issues of transparency, accountability, and funding came to the fore, delegates agreed to recommendations on several topics, including trade and conservation issues in great apes, elephants, tigers, rhinoceroses, sturgeons, ramin, bigleaf mahogany and other species.

Furthermore, the SC also took decisions on, inter alia:
- the relationship between CITES and UNEP;
- conducting a study on the rationale and history of the rules applying to votes by secret ballot within CITES’ COPs;
- the adoption of national laws for the implementation of the Convention;
- review of significant trade (RST);
- enforcement matters;
- other issues on interpretation and implementation of the Convention;
- the withdrawal of the recommendation to suspend trade with Nigeria, following the decision by the 61st meeting of the Standing Committee (SC 61) to lift the suspension;
- Peru's efforts to establish restrictive mahogany export quotas and reliable verification systems to ensure that harvest is sustainable and trade legal; and
- lifting a recommendation to suspend trade in Himalayan yew (Taxus wallichiana) from India, a tree with important pharmaceutical uses.
IISD-RS Coverage
CITES Press Release on Elephants
CITES Press Release on Financing
CITES Website

CITES: Ivory and Rhino Task Force

The Ivory and Rhinoceros Enforcement Task Force met at UNEP/HQ from 17-19 May to discuss urgent actions against crimes targeting elephants and rhinos. According to CITES, the meeting was attended by 20 law enforcement representatives from 12 countries who discussed the increasing demand for both rhinoceros horn and elephant ivory, despite successful actions by the law enforcement community.

They agreed on the need for better communication, collaboration and coordination, and exchange of data. They further stressed the importance of encouraging enforcement agencies to delay releasing news of significant seizures until information has been provided to relevant counterparts in countries of origin and destination, as well as to international enforcement bodies.

Press Release