Results CITES-conference please minister Verburg

11juli2007
Source: minlnv.nl
Last June, the international conference about the trade in endangered wild animals and plants was held in the Hague. Minister Verburg, of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) looks back pleased on the conference. A debate on the African elephant, which had been ongoing for the last 18 years, was concluded successfully, and large steps were taken towards the protection of the eel and South American kinds of wood.
50 ministers of nature underlined the importance of the CITES-treaty and a joined policy.
The CoP14 CITES was held in the World Forum Convention Centre (WFCC) in The Hague from 3 till 15 June 2007. 171 member countries (about 1600 participants in total) discussed the trade in endangered wild animals and plants. More than a hundred topics were dealt with, including 37 proposals concerning to protect animals and plants. The negotiations concerning the African elephant formed a connected thread in the CoP14.
After days of debate, the African ministers reached an agreements, which they had failed to do for the last 18 years. These ministers had come to The Netherlands for the round-table conference, which was called by minister Verburg. And at the special request of minister Verburg as chair of the CoP14, they did their best to come to an agreement. This happened on Thursday, June 14. The agreement was accepted by all parties. On behalf of the Dutch government, minister Verburg promised a donation of 100.000 euros for an African Elephant Fund for African countries, which is yet to be founded.
An agreement was also reached concerning the protection of the European eel. The proposal to protect the eel by a system of permits was accepted by a large majority (91%). Another step forward was made for the protection of South-American cedar wood and rosewood, even though the original proposals were withdrawn. The South-American range states said to realise the importance of protecting these kinds of wood. It has been agreed that these types of wood will be put on the agenda during the next CITES-conference by the range states themselves.
During the ministerial round-table conference on June 13 2007, with 50 ministers of Nature participating worldwide, the importance of the CITES-treaty was once again underlined.
To take an ever better stand against the illegal trade in endangered wild animals and plants, the improvement of the enforcement and joint campaigns was discussed, as well as the role of CITES in the protection of types of wood and marine species.