For the 17th conference of the parties to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES - 24 September to 5 October 24 in Johannesburg), the EU will be represented for the first time as a party that seeks to impact the crucial negotiations for mitigating the criminal trafficking of endangered species of fauna and flora. According to the European press, several senior EU officials indicated on Tuesday 20 September that the most important aspect of these negotiations is the ivory trade that Namibia and Zimbabwe want to resume.
The protection of elephants illegally slaughtered for trade in their ivory, which is also illegal, is only one of the major EU priorities to be pursued at this meeting, given that CITES covers 35,000 endangered wild animal and plant species and that no fewer than 200 subjects await the 2,000 delegates who will make their binding decisions on the basis of a two thirds majority (see EUROPE 11626).
"The illegal trade in wild species is particularly lucrative and brings in between $8-20 billion a year for criminals involved in this trafficking. Mitigating this trafficking is important from an environmental, economic and social point of view”, one expert pointed out. "The EU is an influential actor, with 28 members defending a united position", the expert continued. It is on the strength of its action plan against trafficking in endangered species, adopted last June, that the EU will defend its priorities.
Ivory trade. The EU wants the ban in force to be strengthened with robust implementation measures, based on recommendations targeted to offenders, an obligation to report on these offenders, and possible dissuasive trade sanctions, as was previously the case with "the threat to ban the trade in Thai orchids, to encourage this country to take action to protect elephants", a senior official explained.
Rosewood species. The EU wants to establish international protection for this species, which the Asian market is particularly keen on using in the production of furniture. "In the absence of there being any legal instruments, Asia does not take action. It is one of the most lucrative forms of trafficking". An EU-Africa (Senegal/Gabon) resolution is on the table on rosewood and corruption, another proposal being put forward by Latin American countries. The EU seeks the adoption of a resolution in black and white that clearly highlights the need to tackle corruption and ensure appropriate follow-up.
Specific recommendations. The EU will support many different specific recommendations (200 in total) that target: - action on the demand for rhinoceroses, pangolins, rosewood in Asia and Europe; - the adoption of clear criteria on the legality and sustainability of hunting trophies. "We presented a proposal that encounters some resistance from countries that do not want too much regulation", European experts emphasise.
Finance and delegate participation. The EU is calling on donors to provide transparent funding, in an effort to guarantee the participation of developing countries. "These resources should not be delivered directly to these countries, with a view to obtaining support on certain questions!"
Maritimes species. The EU wants to include species of shark and ray fish in CITES.
Pets. The EU is an important market for imported exotic species (such as the green African parrot, the Barbary macaque and the Banggai cardinal fish) and wants to strengthen protection of these species. Senior officials say that when it comes to coral, many species are already protected (although not the red Mediterranean coral) and the EU supports a US proposal that does not currently seek to include new species but instead provide an overall situational analysis on the state of coral conservation. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)