Assessment of Pangolin Conservation Advancements Discussed at CITES 78th Gathering
CITES Standing Committee to Convene in Geneva for Global Review
The CITES Standing Committee, a key body of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), will gather in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3-8 February 2025 for its 78th meeting. This gathering, which is expected to attract more than 70 CITES Parties and over 100 observer organizations, will serve as a crucial stepping stone towards the 20th meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP20) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in November 2025.
The meeting's agenda is extensive, covering a wide range of topics that will set the stage for the wholistic review by CITES CoP20 of the Convention's implementation as it reaches its 50th year in effect. The discussions will revolve around carbon & climate, food & agriculture, policy & finance, biodiversity, international cooperation, natural resources, regulation, conservation, wildlife trade, nature-based solutions, and animal welfare.
Among the wildlife crime issues to be addressed are those related to cheetahs, rhinoceroses, seahorses, Tibetan antelope, tortoises, and freshwater turtles. The Committee will also consider key reports on the progress of measures and activities of CITES task forces, such as the CITES Big Cats Task Force and the CITES Task Force on illegal trade in tree species.
The Committee will also delve into flora-related matters, including reports on the CITES conservation and sustainable use of forests, CITES exemptions for rosewood tree species, and a traceability system for Brazil wood (Paubrasilia echinata) bows. The meeting will also review the outcome of the CITES Dialogue meeting for African Elephant range States and assess the implementation of the National Ivory Action Plans (NIAPs).
In addition, the Committee will provide advice on how to reflect in the CITES Appendices the scientific agreement to recognize a new species of African elephant, known as the forest elephant (L. cyclotis), as separate from the savanna elephant (L. africana). The Committee is also invited to consider new non-binding guidance on consulting indigenous peoples and local communities on proposals to amend the CITES Appendices.
The Committee's decisions and resolutions will have significant implications for the future of the conservation and regulation of CITES-listed species. The meeting will also discuss sustainability challenges and conservation progress for various species included in the CITES Appendices. Regional activities in West and Central Africa and progress made by other Parties to address wildlife crime will also be under scrutiny.
The Committee will review updates from the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) and consider draft revisions to Resolutions on the Cooperation with the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation and the Implementation of the Convention for Agarwood-producing taxa. The Committee will also consider the results of the Secretariat's study examining the mismatch of data on the catch and trade of CITES-listed sharks.
The 78th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee promises to be a pivotal event in the global effort to conserve and sustainably manage CITES-listed species. The outcomes of this meeting will provide valuable insights into the conservation, regulation of trade, combatting wildlife crime, and strengthening the sustainability and traceability of the harvest and trade in CITES-listed species.
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