The Botswana delegation to the European Union (EU) in Brussels Tshenolo Modise and the Wildlife and National Parks director Rapelang Mojaphoko led the Botswana party of 14 people.
In his opening remarks, CITES secretary general Willem Wijnstekers touched on several key points that:
l Many animal and plant species are endangered as a result of human activities, such as habitat destruction, poaching, over-harvesting and pollution. These threats to wildlife have continued to grow as expanding human populations; development, poverty and war have tested the ability of animals and plants to survive.
l CITES in its more than 30 years existence had not lost any of its importance as an international legal instrument to conserve biodiversity. To the contrary, it is now more important than ever to ensure that trade in wildlife is non-detrimental and to combat illegal trade in wild animals and plants.
l Over the years, CITES has shown to be able to adapt to changing circumstances as it has developed new tools to allow its parties to efficiently cope with changing trade patterns, the increased involvement of organised crime in poaching and illegal trade and many other challenges related to wildlife conservation.
l CITES and livelihoods will be an issue at this COP 14 meeting. A proposal by the EU and several countries from other continents builds on the earlier recognition by the Conference of Parties, that the implementation of CITES listing decisions should take into account potential impacts on the livelihood of the poor. This has been misunderstood by some.
l It is therefore important to note that this recognition cannot and should not stop species from being listed because there is or might be a problem for livelihoods. Species are to be listed in accordance with the scientific, biological criteria that have been established by the Parties, but the implementation of the relevant trade regime should take the interest of the livelihood of the poor into account. Among other things, of trophy hunting, the benefits of which should go to the local communities sharing their environment with the species concerned. Where that is not the case, other international organisations or do not will need to ensure proper compensation for the loss of income of rural communities.
l This year CITES is a major one attracting 171 parties, including all major wildlife trading countries. Therefore, the meeting shall be decisive for the role CITES will play, or will be allowed to play rather, in the years to come.
l Governments clearly want and expect more from CITES as they recognise its competence and its value. For the first time in the history of CITES, a ministerial meeting will be held to discuss, not only the need to enhance the enforcement of the Convention, but also the role CITES should play in the conservation of fish and timber species. Timber species that have been included in CITES so far, were at a far too late stage, when the species were already or almost commercially extinct.
l One of the issues to be addressed by ministers next week is how CITES can be used at an earlier stage as complement to management agreements for fish and timber. Consolidating the achievements of CITES around the world, maintaining the progress made in many developing countries to ably manage their wildlife, allowing other developing countries to improve their situation.
Netherlands Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Gerda Verburg was the guest of honour.
