The 16th Conference of Parties of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) started its work with the hosting of a Ministerial Roundtable on the combating of transnational organised wildlife and organised crime yesterday, 4 March 2013.
The triennial gathering of 178 countries, officially opened on Sunday in Bangkok marking the 40th anniversary of CITES. It will, in the next two weeks, decide how to improve the world’s wildlife trade regime, seek to take stock of progress made in ensuring survival of threatened species, and also decide on which species can be down-listed or up-listed on CITES lists, depending on their conservation status as a result of trade.
The more than 2 000 delegates represent their countries as signatories to this international agreement between, and among, governments. On the table are 70 proposals, including the amendment of Rules of Procedure for decision-making.
Amongst the tabled proposals are those that include up-listing of the rhino due to poaching, from which key range States have suffered, including South Africa. This would have widespread implications for South Africa’s white rhino population including the creation of disincentives for the private sector.
“The 40th anniversary of CITES is a critical year for the world's wildlife,” said John Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General. He added that this Bangkok conference is expected to be of “great significance to the future of many species of plants and animals”.
The UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner said that as over-exploitation of the world's critical natural resource base continues on an unsustainable path, species are being placed under increased pressure.
Steiner also said that alongside many other international agreements, CITES provides a wealth of examples where countries are seizing opportunities to bring about positive environmental change with significant social and economic outcomes.
South Africa, which has a proud and long successful conservation record, and is a founding member of CITES. Central to South Africa’s conservation model, is an undisputed record of having brought species populations to healthy recovery. Among these are the white and black rhino, which had come close to extinction almost a century ago.
South Africa’s message to CITES is supported by the government’s policy of sustainable utilisation of natural resources as a biodiversity conservation tool. It is because of adaptive management and sustainable utilisation that South Africa has had such a good conservation track record. Currently, South Africa’s retention of its position as the last bastion of the rhino, hosting more than 80% of the world’s rhino population, serves as best practice in the world – despite increased poaching.
Water and Environmental Affairs Minister, Ms Edna Molewa, met with representatives of the Chinese and Vietnamese delegations on Sunday, March 3, 2013 on the margins of CITES to discuss issues of mutual cooperation in the field of biodiversity, particularly the continued illegal trade in rhino horn.
The Minister’s discussions at COP16 on Sunday with China and Vietnam confirmed the two countries willingness to continue to cooperate with South Africa in the areas of law enforcement in relation to illegal trade in wildlife species, and all parties recommitted their resolve to ensure that a discussion on restricted trade could be considered, during one of the next coming CITES CoPs, in compliance with stringent CITES requirements.
The talks with Vietnam established that the implementation plan stemming from the Memorandum of Understanding relating to Biodiversity conservation, signed between the two countries in December 2012, will be signed and rolled out when a high level Vietnamese delegation visits South Africa in April 2013.
Discussions with China had centred on the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding, to be signed in April this year. This memorandum on Biodiversity Conservation also deal with illegal rhino hunting and will also be soon followed by an implementation plan, similar to that concluded with Vietnam.
It was also agreed that China and South Africa will ensure the immediate roll-out of technological innovation to continue the fight against wildlife crimes. The matter will also be further discussed within the Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa (BRICS) member countries at bilateral and multilateral levels.
Addressing the Roundtable on the Combating of Transnational Organised Wildlife and Forest Crime, the Minister said the establishment of cross-border conservation areas, through the transfrontier parks in Southern Africa has not always been easy to manage, as the region is faced with an increase in wildlife crime.
One of the key issues facing the region is the need to harmonise and align policy, and cross-border enforcement and operations, fight poverty which is a factor which contributes to easy recruitment of poor communities as poachers. In addition, other measures must expedite wildlife conservation awareness creation and equally important is a need for more community-based enterprise development from the wildlife sector.
The Minister said the meeting has recognised that no single country could work on its own to combat wildlife crime, and that greater cooperation with non-governmental organisations and community-based structures is needed, as well as the use of improved technology.
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