The 54 species proposals are not the only items on the agenda at the 12th Conference of the Parties to CITES in Santiago, Chile. Delegates to the Parties will also discuss other matters including, for example, the very criteria under which species are placed on the different CITES Appendices. Some Parties wish to make it more difficult to provide Appendix I and Appendix II protections to species.
Other issues on the table:
Leopards. CITES allows a total of 2,085 leopard skins, mostly hunting trophies, to be exported from 11 African countries each year. Parties have been presented with two proposals: One to reduce CITES regulation of such exports, and one to double the number of leopard skins that Tanzania may export each year (from 250 to 500) even though there is no scientific justification for the current quota, much less the proposed increase.
Bear, rhinoceros, and antelope. At the last COP, the Parties agreed to take specific actions to address the trade in bear parts and rhinoceros horns, both of which are used in traditional Chinese medicine, as well as to address the trade in the fur of Tibetan antelope, which is used to make fine cloth called shatoosh. The Parties will discuss whether to continue their efforts or to modify them.
International Whaling Commission. CITES has established a supportive relationship with the International Whaling Commission (IWC). CITES helps to enforce the IWC's ban on commercial whaling by not allowing trade in parts and products of the great whales. Two contrasting proposals will be discussed: One to sever the IWC-CITES relationship (from Japan), and the other to strengthen it (from Mexico).
Circus animals. The Russian Federation has proposed to make it easier to move circus animals across international borders, which is likely to increase enforcement problems.
Bushmeat. Parties will decide whether CITES should continue its role in addressing the harmful trade in bushmeat (wild animal meat).
Apes. The Parties will consider whether CITES should assist rescuers seeking to remove captive apes from war zones.
NGOs. Parties will make decisions on two proposals regarding non-governmental organizations: One that would make it easier to exclude non-governmental organizations from COP12, and one that would make it more difficult for non-governmental organizations to provide Party delegates with information materials.
Secret votes. Parties will decide whether to make it more difficult to hold secret votes.
