54th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
2-6 October 2006 | Geneva, Switzerland

ENB Summary

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Daily highlights:
Monday, 2 October - Tuesday, 3 October - Wednesday, 4 October - Thursday, 5 October - Friday, 6 October

Highlights for Thursday, 5 October 2006

On Thursday, CITES SC-54 discussions focused on elephants and timber trade. On elephants, the SC: discussed designation of Japan and China as potential trading partners for the one-off sale of ivory stockpiles from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa; agreed to revisit the issue of monitoring illegal trade and killing of elephants (MIKE) baseline information at SC-55; and finalized funding and administrative arrangements for MIKE. On timber trade, the SC considered the outcomes of PC-16, as well as the situation with bigleaf mahogany in Peru and with ramin in Malaysia.
As SC-54 discussions on elephants and timber dragged on, SC Chair Maquieira warned delegates about a possible late night session on Friday.
Elephants
KENYA opposed the one-off sale of ivory stockpiles from Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, emphasizing income generation from live elephants.
NAMIBIA, supported by SOUTH AFRICA and ZAMBIA, stressed that the debate should not deviate from verification of Japan and China as potential trading partners, noting that Japan meets the conditions to become one.
Several African delegates requested more time to consider a compromise proposal on designating Japan as a trading partner.
The SC Bureau ponders the way forward on elephants.
Timber Trade
PC Chair Clemente said the Secretariat’s document does not reflect the complexity of discussions at PC-16 and expressed regret that its decision not to subject mahogany to an RST had been questioned.
PERU reported on national activities to implement the CITES Appendix-II listing of bigleaf mahogany, including the Bigleaf Mahogany Action Plan, lower quotas established for 2007, and strengthened verification of concessions and licenses.
MALAYSIA informed the SC that its 2006 quotas were derived from partial NDFs and reassured the SC that 2007 quotas would be lower.
Milena Schmidt, CITES Secretariat, highlighted the Secretariat’s concern about Malaysia’s continuing harvesting of ramin in the State of Sarawak and the levels of quotas submitted for 2006.
Daily highlights:
Monday, 2 October - Tuesday, 3 October - Wednesday, 4 October - Thursday, 5 October - Friday, 6 October
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