Dialogue on implementation of core priorities of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
September 23, 2010 at 10:00 AM
Organization of American States, Guerrero Room

Background and Overview: Since the first Summit of the Americas, OAS member States have committed to building capacity for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, through CITES support projects. Moreover, the Quebec Summit in 2001 also emphasized the need to advance hemispheric conservation of plants, animals and ecosystems through networks such as the Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN) and cooperation in the fight against illegal trade in wildlife. In response to these commitments and to the call of Inter-American Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Sustainable Development (AG/RES. 2312(XXXVII-O/07), the OAS Department of Sustainable Development (OAS-DSD) has been facilitating access and exchange of information for biological diversity decision-making through IABIN and supporting countries in the promotion of strategies to address the loss of habitat for wildlife, including the effective implementation of laws, policies and regulations that address the protection of wild flora and fauna and the illegal trade in endangered species. These efforts also aim to support the implementation of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The CITES Secretariat is charged with the coordinating, advisory and servicing role in the working of the Convention. The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (Qatar, 2010) has directed the CITES Secretariat to cooperate, in the provision of legislative assistance with the OAS among other institutions.

With the objective of working together towards providing legislative assistance to member States in this area, the CITES Secretariat and the OAS-DSD have worked on joint concept note and have convened a dialogue to discuss concrete legal and financial responses to the challenges facing biodiversity in the Americas.

The discussion will be centered around the following CITES core priorities:

  1. Targeted legislative support to streamline wildlife trade that is sustainable and traceable; and
  2. Policy tools and guidelines that protect the livelihoods of the rural poor depending on wildlife resources;

  • Press release
  • Video
  • Pictures
  • Convention on Nature Protection and Wild Life Preservation in the Western Hemisphere
  • Decision 15.41 of the CITES XV Conference of the Parties

    • 10:00 a.m. Welcome Remarks

    • Amb. Mauricio Cortes Costa, Executive Secretary for Integral Development, OAS l Remarks
    • John Scanlon, CITES Secretary General

    10:15 a.m. Presentation of CITES priorities

    • John Scanlon, CITES Secretary General

    10:30 a.m. Presentation of Joint CITES/OAS proposed Efforts

    • Mrs. Claudia de Windt, Senior Legal Specialist, Department of Sustainable Development, Organization of American States and Juan Carlos Vasquez, CITES Secretariat
      • l Presentation

    10:45 a.m. Open dialogue and input from participants

    • Chaired by Richard Huber, Principal Specialist Department of Sustainable Development, Organization of American States

    11:30 a.m Conclusions and Next Steps

    • John Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General
    • Cletus Springer, Director, OAS-DSD