CIC Position Paper

Position Paper C I C – I n t e r n at i on a l Council for Game and W i l d l i f e C o n s e r vat i o n for CoP 18 of the Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Geneva, 17 –28 August 2019 1

CIC Position Paper

for CITES CoP18, Geneva, 17–28 August 2019

Welcome message

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De a r f e l l o w c on s e rvat i on i s t s , De a r C I T E S Pa rt i e s a n d Observers to the Convention,

some of the underlying economic and social factors when preparing policies that will work in practice.

Linking CITES processes and decisions more closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals is an important step in recognising these factors. We need to remember the human element at the centre of the human-nature interface, while at the same time looking at the ecological science.

At the occasion of the eighteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP18) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), taking place in Geneva, Switzerland (17-28 August, 2019), the CIC has prepared a voting guide for a selection of items on the provisional agenda for the conference.

The CoP18 is particularly important as it comes one year out from the next CBD CoP in 2020 which will decide on the post-2020 biodiversity targets.

In preparing this voting guide, the CIC has looked at the scientific data and assessments available for species, including data from IUCN – the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Furthermore, we welcome a number of recent initiatives included in the agenda, such as inter alia (i) increased cooperation with organizations and multilateral environmental agreements; (ii) a strengthening of the science-policy interface; and (iii) a push to effectively engage rural communities in the CITES processes. Encouraging such initiatives can only work to strengthen the impacts of CITES.

With that in mind, one must be mindful that any decisions at the CITES CoP will have far-reaching effects on species conservation around the world.

Let us then remind ourselves of the convention’s main aim: to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. One of the cornerstones for achieving this aim is the sustainable use of species; sustainability being based on three pillars: ecological, economic and social.

On this promising note, I wish you all a successful conference,

Given the complexity of the natural world, and the human-nature interface, various factors need to be considered when determining what constitutes sustainable trade and what will enable species to survive.

Ultimately, the sustainable use of individuals should not be detrimental to the survival of a species in the wild. However, one must also take into account

George Aman CIC President 

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CIC Position Paper

for CITES CoP18, Geneva, 17–28 August 2019

CIC Voting Guide on Selected Issues Submitted to t h e 1 8 th M e e t i n g o f t h e C I T E S C o n f e r e n c e o f t h e Pa rt i e s

Prepared by the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) version of 16 July 2019 The following items on the provisional agenda for CITES CoP 18 as published on the CITES Secretariats’ website were considered of particular importance and priority interest for the international sustainable use community, including the CIC:

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Agenda item 10: ‘Revision and replacement of the CITES Strategic Vision: 2008-2020: (Working Group report)’ Issue

CIC position

Decision 17.18

The CIC is in principle supportive of the revised Strategic Vision as proposed in the Annex of document CoP 18 Doc 10, which is definitely more concise than the previous one. However, the CIC is still concerned to note that in the proposed Resolution, many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) most relevant for CITES are not included i.e. ‘Goal 14’ and even more worrying ‘Goal 15’ are not specifically mentioned. Some targets under SDG Goal 15 (Targets 15.5. and 15.7) relate specifically to issues such as stopping the degradation of natural habitats and the loss of biodiversity or the fight against poaching or wildlife trafficking.

Under Objective 4.2 in the Annex of document CoP 18 Doc 10 the reference to the SDGs is still far too general, where most of the SDGs are not even of relevance to CITES at all.

The Standing Committee established a Strategic Plan Working Group, with representation from all regions and from the Animals and Plants Committees, to develop, with the assistance and cooperation of the Secretariat, a proposal for a Strategic Vision for the period after 2020 including an associated action plan and indicators to measure progress. A proposal for a CITES Strategic Vision for the period after 2020 and any associated action plan and indicators has been drafted.

The CITES SC 70 has discussed a draft and concluded that there is still ample scope to enhance the document before it is submitted for further deliberations and discussions at the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties in 2019.

The CIC therefore proposes that the Conference of the Parties support the inclusion and specific mentioning of SDG 14 ad SDG 15 in the new ‘Strategic Vision’ and if possible, together with the respective targets.

Furthermore, the CIC fully concurs that it is crucial that after the adoption of the new Strategic Vision a follow up process is being established as outlined in the four proposed decisions in document CoP 18 Doc 10.

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CIC Position Paper

for CITES CoP18, Geneva, 17–28 August 2019

Agenda item 15.4: Cooperation with organizations and multilateral environmental agreements; here: ‘Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services - IPBES’ Issue On 29 November 2018, the IPBES Secretariat circulated a memorandum to inform its members and stakeholders that the Multidisciplinary Panel and the Bureau are now inviting comments from Governments and stakeholders on the draft next work programme of IPBES. This is an important issue, which will shape the work of IPBES up to 2030 and will likely have a mid-term basis influence on the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and other multilateral processes.

The objectives of the work programme of IPBES up to 2030 are to provide contributions that are in line with the decision on strengthening of the science-policy interface of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (Objective A), the biodiversityrelated conventions, and other biodiversity and ecosystem services processes (Objective

B), and the Paris climate agreement (Objective C). These three interdependent and overlapping objectives will aim at strengthening the sciencepolicy interface on biodiversity and ecosystem services, with a view to: • Objective A: Conserving and sustainably using life on land and below water while achieving the other sustainable development goals. This objective addresses the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals; • Objective B: Achieving the 2050 vision for biodiversity where by 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people. This objective, in line 6

with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, addresses the post 2020 Biodiversity Framework, and is particularly relevant to the biodiversity related conventions and other biodiversity and ecosystem services processes; • Objective C: Conserving and sustainably using life on land and below water in a changing climate through nature-based solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This objective, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, addresses the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

CIC position The CIC highly welcomes the new draft IPBES Work Programme in particular its ‘Objective A’ and even more so ‘Objective B’ with its Deliverable B 4 ‘Thematic assessment of the sustainable use of wild species’. IPBES and CITES parties with hunting communities among them, together with important NGOs and IGOs like the CIC, DSC, FACE, SCI and others can and should contribute to this important policy shaping process during the forthcoming years. The CIC as well as the international sustainable use community can definitely contribute in an active manner to this new process under IPBES. The CIC also welcomes the adoption of a resolution to clarify the working relationship between CITES and IPBES, in a similar way that CITES has done with other MEAs such as the CBD or CMS. Furthermore, the CIC is satisfied that the current draft resolution as annexed to document 15.4 suggests in its preambular section that through the CITES Strategic Vision cooperation with relevant international environmental, trade and development organizations shall be enhanced.

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CIC Position Paper

for CITES CoP18, Geneva, 17–28 August 2019

Agenda item 17: ‘Rural communities’ Issue

CIC position

At CoP17 Decisions 17.28 to 17.30 were adopted as follows:

The CIC strongly supports the current process established under CITES. Compared to other MEAs such as the CBD or IPBES, rural communities’ influence on policy shaping or decision making in the CITES arena, both on the national or international level has been extremely poor or even not existent. Hence, there is ample scope to enhance this situation.

17.28 The Standing Committee shall establish an intersessional working group to consider how to effectively engage rural communities in the CITES processes and to present its findings and recommendations to the Standing Committee, for consideration at its 70th meeting.

17.29 In establishing the intersessional working group, which shall be comprised of the Parties and representatives of rural communities, the Chair of the Standing Committee shall strive to achieve regional balance of Parties, with the number of members of rural communities not exceeding the number of the Parties.

Therefore, the CIC fully supports the proposed amendments of Resolutions Conf. 4.6 and 9.24 as proposed by Namibia and Zimbabwe in CoP 18 Doc 17.2 as these are fully in line with CITES Res. Conf. 16.6 on ‘CITES & Livelihoods’. Furthermore, the CIC urges that the item is not removed completely at the forthcoming CITES CoP but instead remains firmly on the agenda of the CITES community until the CoP 19, provided that the CITES Secretariats proposal in CoP 18 Doc 17.1 to amend CITES Res. Conf 16.6 is not adopted.

The CIC fully supports the proposal submitted by Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia and Zimbabwe on ’Participatory Mechanism for Rural Communities’ (CoP 18 Doc 17.3).

As there are clear overlaps of intentions with what China had proposed in document CoP 18 Doc 18.3 a working group should be established at the CoP to resolve this issue and to come to an agreement on common language to amend the CITES listing criteria resolution.

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17.30 The Standing Committee shall make recommendations on the engagement of rural communities in the CITES process to the 18th Conference of the Parties.

At SC 69, a Working Group was established to consider how to effectively engage rural communities in the CITES process and present its findings and recommendations to SC 70.

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Agenda item 18: ‘CITES and livelihoods’

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Issue

Engaging rural communities in the process and value chain of well managed and sustainable trade in wild animals and plants, not only including ranching, captive breeding, artificial propagation etc. but also sustainable hunting and ecotourism can be an extremely powerful management strategy.

The Conference of the Parties, at its 17th meeting (CoP17, Johannesburg, 2016), adopted Decisions 17.36 to 17.40 on Livelihoods as follows: Directed to the Parties and others

Directed to the Secretariat:

17.36 Parties are invited to:

17.39 The Secretariat shall seek external funding from interested Parties, and intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations to support the work described in Decision 17.36.

a) promote the use of the CITES and livelihoods toolkit, guidelines and handbook to carry out rapid assessments of the impact of the implementation of CITES-listing decisions on the livelihoods of rural communities, the implementation of activities which mitigate any negative impacts;

17.40 Subject to the availability of external financial resources, the Secretariat shall: a) facilitate the organization of workshops and side-events to showcase successful livelihood experiences and exchange lessons learnt, in collaboration with interested Parties and relevant international and regional organizations;

b) encourage the conduct of new case studies on how legal and sustainable trade can generate economic incentives for the conservation of wildlife and improvement of livelihoods of indigenous and local communities; and

b) continue to update the relevant section on the CITES website to publish experiences and case studies related to CITES and livelihoods submitted by Parties, stakeholders and interested organizations;

c) incorporate issues related to CITES and livelihoods into their national socio-economic and development plans, as well as in relevant projects being developed for external funding, including funding by Global Environment Facility (GEF).

c) cooperate with relevant UN agencies and programmes, international and regional organizations to establish ad hoc livelihoods funding and promote capacity-building activities that support Parties to implement the Convention as an important part of enabling livelihoods; and

17.37 Developing country Parties are encouraged to communicate with their national Ministries of finance, development, or other relevant Ministries, to seek the provision of financial support to the work in Decision 17.36.

d) report at the 69th meeting of the Standing Committee and at the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties on the work above and other progress made with regard to the implementation of Resolution Conf. 16.6 (Rev. CoP17) on CITES and livelihoods.

17.38 Developed country Parties, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and public and private donors/investors are encouraged to provide financial and in-kind resources in support of the work in Decision 17.36.

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CIC Position Paper

for CITES CoP18, Geneva, 17–28 August 2019

Agenda item 18.1: ‘Report of the Secretariat’ CIC Position The CIC welcomes the outcome of the livelihood workshop hosted by China from 6–8 November 2018 in Guangzhou and the presentation of over 30 new case studies that have overwhelmingly demonstrated that engagement of rural communities in the various parts of the value chain of legal trade may offer an economically viable employment opportunity for rural communities and a direct incentive for wildlife conservation.

The CIC welcomes the excellent progress made, thanks also to IUCN, and therefore fully supports the adoption of the two draft decisions on livelihoods in Annex 1 to the present document to allow this important process to continue.

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Agenda item 18.2 ’Proposed adoption of draft decisions and resolution on CITES and Livelihoods’ CIC Position The CIC fully supports the proposal submitted by Peru on ’the proposed adoption of draft decisions and resolution on CITES and Livelihoods’ (CoP 18 Doc 18.2).

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Agenda item 18.3: ‘Proposed amendments to Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) CIC Position The CIC concurs with the intention behind the amendment of CITES Res. Conf. 9.24 as proposed by China. However, there are clear overlaps of intentions with what Namibia and Zimbabwe had proposed in document CoP 18 Doc 17.2 that would merit that a working group should be established at the CoP to resolve this issue and to come to an agreement on common language to amend the CITES listing criteria resolution.

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CIC Position Paper

for CITES CoP18, Geneva, 17–28 August 2019

Agenda item 19: ‘Food security and livelihoods’ Issue Three Decisions directed to the Standing Committee as follows:

the option in paragraph 3 a) of a stand-alone resolution.

• 17.41 The Standing Committee shall consider the proposed resolution contained in document CoP17 Doc.17 on food security and livelihoods.

The working group conducted its work electronically. The Chair of the working group reported to the Standing Committee at its 70th meeting (SC70, Sochi, October 2018) that it was unable to reach a consensus between two distinct divergent views, and that more work is necessary. Consequently, at SC70, the Standing Committee agreed to propose to the Conference of the Parties the renewal of Decisions 17.41 to 17.43.2.

• 17.42 The Standing Committee shall invite the proponents of the resolution, in an effort to develop a revised version for consideration by the Standing Committee.

• 17.43 The Standing Committee shall consider the work undertaken in Decisions 17.41 and 17.42, and make recommendations, as necessary, to the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

At SC 69 the Standing Committee established an intersessional working group on Livelihoods and Food Security (Chair Namibia) to consider the contents of the draft resolution contained in CoP17 Doc. 17 with a mandate to take into account two options presented in paragraphs 3 b) (Incorporation into existing resolution(s)) and 3 c) (Implementation through other means), above, without

Note: The CITES Secretariat expressed in CoP 18 Doc 19 some concern that, if the opposing views of Parties and stakeholders remain as divergent and fundamental as they were at CoP17, simply renewing the Decisions for another three years may not lead to a better outcome. The Conference of the Parties may wish to take this into account when considering whether or not to adopt the proposed renewal of Decisions 17.41 to 17.43.

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CIC Position The CIC fully supports the continuation of the working group beyond CoP 18. The issue to be resolved is important and should be brought inter alia into closer focus with regards to the implementation of SDG 15.

The option to continue the work on this matter until CITES CoP 19 by renewal of the respective CoP 17 Decisions would be entirely supported by the CIC.

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CIC Position Paper

for CITES CoP18, Geneva, 17–28 August 2019

Agenda item 46: ‘Quotas for leopard hunting trophies’ Issue Decisions 17.114 - 17.115 The leopard is included in Appendix I. Range states with approved hunting trophy quotas were asked by CoP17 to report on the effect thereof on populations.

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CIC Position The CIC is pleased to note that Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and Zimbabwe had reported extensively and on time about the status of their leopard populations and the national management they had in place. The CIC is therefore pleased that the past intersessional CITES period has unanimously found that their quotas were not detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.

That no documentation was received from Botswana, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic does not necessarily mean that there aren’t stable and well managed leopard populations in these three countries. Hence, the CIC is not anxious if CoP 18 adopts the renewal of Decisions 17.114 to 17.117 for Botswana, the Central African Republic and Ethiopia, allowing the Animals Committee to evaluate the information and make appropriate recommendations during the next intersessional CITES period.

As already previously expressed, the CIC remains critical of the Secretariats’ proposal for amendments to Resolution Conf. 9.21 (Rev. CoP13) concerning approaches to review quotas for Appendix-I species that had been established by the Conference of the Parties.

The implementation of Resolution Conf. 9.21 (Rev. CoP13) has over the years worked extremely well and it is up to the CoP to decide, as with any other listing proposals in accordance with Res. Conf.

9.24, whether a quota is warranted to be increased, decreased or not given at all.

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CIC Position Paper

for CITES CoP18, Geneva, 17–28 August 2019

Agenda item 47: Enhancement of Quotas for Markhor Hunting Trophies CIC Position

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The CIC strongly supports the proposed enhancement of quotas for Markhor hunting trophies as submitted by Pakistan in document CoP18 Prop. 47, particularly in view of the stable and increasing population of Markhor (Capra falconeri) across all the range provinces/territories of Markhor in Pakistan, especially where a community-based trophy hunting programme is being implemented; and with the Office of Conservator Wildlife, Ministry of Climate Change as CITES Scientific Authority of Pakistan having endorsed the recent status of Markhor in Pakistan as stable to increasing.

Agenda item 96: African Carnivore Initiative Issue The 1st Meeting of Range States for the Joint CMS – CITES African Carnivore Initiative (ACI1) took place in Bonn, Germany, from 5–8 November 2018. The meeting was originally planned to be open only to Range States, IUCN Cat Specialist group and Canid specialist group, and CITES and CMS Secretariats.

This was done to ensure that the Range States were free to discuss their policies with each other and among themselves, with the help of just the few IUCN experts.

There was broad representation geographically, with 31 West, East, North, and South African countries attending to discuss the issues related to the four iconic carnivore species covered by the initiative, namely the African lion (Panthera leo), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), leopard (Panthera pardus) and African wild dog (Lycaon pictus).

of the collaboration between themselves, CITES, CMS and IUCN to undertake urgent and effective conservation action in favour of the four species.

Participants discussed possible governance structures that the ACI could assume and provided guidance as to how the Initiative could be taken forward under the scope of two Conventions (CITES and CMS).

Range States welcomed the establishment of the Initiative and recognized the importance

One of the outcomes of the meeting was among others, an official communiqué adopted

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by range States at the closing of the meeting intended to feed into both CMS CoP 15 and CITES CoP 18, with the drafting of a Resolution to be adopted at both CoPs. Furthermore, another objective of the meeting was to consolidate all the Decisions and Resolutions that currently make up the ACI. A summary of the draft decisions of relevance for CITES CoP 18 can be found in the ANNEX of this document.

CIC Position The CIC endorses and welcomes the outcomes of ACI 1. Furthermore, the CIC stands ready to support constructively any ACI programme of work that is proposed to be established between CITES and CMS, for instance by becoming a potential partner for the implementation of the activities.

Furthermore, the CIC is pleased to note that the all Range States of the four African carnivore target species attending ACI1 agreed that policies addressing community conservation and livelihoods issues with respect to the four target species be added under the framework of the ACI, including direct benefit to communities, and recognizing already existing case studies and examples.

Concerning the need to draft a new CITES/CMS Resolution, setting out the fundamental principles and objectives of the ACI, the CIC is not convinced of the necessity to do so. There is already a CITES resolution Res Conf. 13.3 ‘Cooperation and synergy with the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals’ that should be readily amended with the respective objectives agreed at ACI1.

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CIC Position Paper

for CITES CoP18, Geneva, 17–28 August 2019

Agenda item 105: Proposals to amend Appendices I and II

#105 Heptner’s / Bukhara markhor I to II with adaptive hunting quota – Tajikistan Provisional assessment and pending IUCN analyses: Safeguarding the interests of the communities in Tajikistan is important. The Ideal would be a proposal according to which the markhor is downlisted and hunting licences/trophy exports are limited to communities representing families who own the land where markhor occur. There have been similar decisions before (e.g. Colombia proposal to downlist the American crocodile at CoP 17).

CIC Position The CIC would only support the proposal if the downlisting from Appendix I to II is accompanied by a requirement that the award of hunting licences / trophy exports is limited to communities representing families who own the land where markhor occur. The incentives for communities brought about from limited hunting licences / trophy exports, has been a critical factor in the sustainable use and successful conservation of markhor in Tajikistan.

Given the absence of such a requirement, it would be good if a better proposal, which includes the communities, could instead be developed and delivered at CoP 19. In the meantime, the CIC and hopefully other inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations should attempt, through bilateral consultations to encourage the Tajik Government to change their position towards the communities.

CIC Position White rhino 330 kg stock plus 20 kg per year to be sold - Eswatini (former Swaziland).

The trade as such is not enough to satisfy Asian markets and may indeed lead to increased illegal trade.

The CIC does not have a public opinion on this, and believes that the proposal stands no chance of being approved.

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White rhino I to II for export of live animals and hunting trophies – Namibia

Giraffe inclusion in II Central African Republic, Chad, Kenya, Mali, Niger and Senegal

CIC Position The CIC supports this proposal strongly because it presents a welldocumented and great conservation success. Namibia now has the second largest white rhino population in the world, one that has more than doubled in the last 10 years.

CIC Position The CIC is doubtful on the proposal to list the Giraffe in Appendix II, which warrants further investigation. There is still quite some debate on the species and sub-species among the scientific community.

We will need more time to thoroughly determine the implications of trade for the species, especially the (anecdotal) data quoted in the proposal. By-products from legal trophy hunting, which can be numerous, could represent part of the commercial trade. This would, in case of legal trophy hunting, be sustainable and add to the conservation of the species.

In general, it is difficult to ascertain what specific data-entries into the CITES database represent: a giraffe has hundreds of bones and different ornamental pieces might be made from the same bone.

In the proposal there is no use of off-take numbers from legally hunted Giraffe. For some countries these figures are available and should be added.

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CIC Position Paper

for CITES CoP18, Geneva, 17–28 August 2019

African elephant - controlled sales of registered raw ivory stocks - Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe

African elephant - Appendix II populations Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, transfer to Appendix I - Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria and Togo

African elephant - Appendix I to II for sale of registered stock, hides, leather goods and hunting trophies – Zambia

Mammoth inclusion in II for look-alike reasons – Israel

CIC Position The CIC does not have a public opinion on this. However, it is worth noting that similar auctions have happened in the past in Southern Africa and have tended not to have an influence on poaching illegal trade volumes as shown by MIKE and ETIS programs.

CIC Position The CIC does not support this proposal. Same proponents have tried this before but without much support. It should stay like that.

CIC Position The CIC can support this proposal, but only without the sale of registered stocks i.e. only the sale of hunting trophies, hides and leather goods can be supported.

CIC Position The CIC does not support this proposal. The trade in mammoth ivory is well regulated, at least in Europe. Ivory from mammoth and elephants can be easily distinguished. Furthermore, the proposal sets an unwanted precedent by including a species that has gone extinct for thousands of years.

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Saiga antelope transfer II to I Mongolia and USA

Reeves’s Pheasant inclusion in II (hunts advertised in Czech Republic and Slovakia)

CIC Position The CIC opposes transfer to Appendix I and supports maintaining Saiga antelope in Appendix II. The species has already significantly recovered after a population clash in 2015/2016 and this seems to be part of a natural fluctuation. In addition, the excellent fecundity of the species allows a rapid population recovery.

CIC Position The CIC does not support the inclusion of Reeve’s Pheasant in Appendix II. For the time being an Appendix III listing should be an appropriate solution and would be entirely in line with what had been discussed since CITES CoP 17 and had been put forward now for adoption at CoP 18 under agenda item 100 ‘Inclusion of species in Appendix III’.

There is some trade from the only native range state which is China.

The species is already protected under Chinese legislation and any non-permitted hunting or export without government approval should already be illegal.

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ANNEX Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA 1st Meeting of Range States for the Joint CMS – CITES African Carnivores Initiative (ACI1) Bonn, Germany, 5 – 8 November 2018

CMS‐CITES/ACI1/Outcomes.2

MEETING OUTCOMES (Prepared by the Secretariat)

Summary: The following document contains the outcomes agreed by the 1st Meeting of Range States for the Joint CITES‐CMS – African Carnivores Initiative (ACI1).

The Annexes to this document contain the following outcomes: ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐

Annex 1: Recommendations on the Future of the African Carnivores Initiative Annex 2: Outcomes on African Lions (Panthera leo) with suggested Decisions to the CITES COP18 and CMS COP13 Annex 3: Outcomes on Leopards (Panthera pardus) with suggested Decisions to the CITES COP18 Annex 4: Outcomes on the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus), including suggested changes to the CMS Decisions on Conservation and Management of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) (Decisions 12.61 ‐ 12.66) for CMS COP13.

CMS‐CITES/ACI1/Outcomes.2

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Outcomes of the 1st Meeting of Range States for the Joint CITES‐CMS African Carnivores Initiative (ACI1) 1. This document compiles the outcomes of the First Meeting of Range States for the Joint CITES‐CMS African Carnivores Initiative.

2. Based on CMS Decision 12.60 on Joint CMS‐CITES African Carnivores Initiative and the CITES‐CMS Joint Work Programme for 2015‐2020, requesting the Secretariats to cooperate on big cats, capacity‐building, outreach, and fundraising amongst others, the Secretariats of CMS and CITES called for the First Meeting of Range States for the Joint CITES‐CMS African Carnivores Initiative (ACI1). The meeting was made possible through the financial support from the Governments of Belgium (both the Federal Government and the Flemish Government), Germany and Switzerland.

3. Thirty‐one Range States participated in the meeting, represented by either CMS or CITES national contacts. The following Parties were represented at the meeting: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

4. The meeting was conducted in an informal manner, allowing Range States to freely express their opinions in the plenary and working group sessions. The meeting was closed to observers and NGOs. Expert opinions were given by the IUCN Cat Specialist Group. All documents annexed below were consensually agreed upon by the Meeting.

5. It was also agreed by the participating Parties that the Secretariats would prepare the decisions and recommendations contained in the Annexes to this document for submission to the 18th Meeting of the Conference of Parties of CITES (May 2019, Sri Lanka) and the 13th Meeting of the Conference of Parties of CMS (February 2020, India), including by making necessary editorial changes.

6. The Meeting also agreed that the Secretariats would extract issues common to all four species covered by the ACI from the existing decisions and recommendations resulting from the Meeting and submit it to CITES COP18 and to CMS COP13 instructing the Secretariats to develop a Joint Programme of Work for the African Carnivores Initiative.

7. Since the outcomes of this meeting will be encapsulated within the above‐mentioned decisions for submission to CITES COP18 (and eventually CMS COP13) for which translation into French will soon be made available, Annexes 1‐4 to this document will not be provided in French with this publication/notification.

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CMS‐CITES/ACI1/Outcomes.2

ANNEX 1 THE FUTURE OF THE ACI The Range States of the four African carnivore target species attending ACI1 agreed: a) Addressing the threats to African carnivores requires the long‐term commitment of Range States and the international community. Therefore, the establishment of a Joint CITES‐CMS African Carnivores Initiative is a timely undertaking. b) To ensure long‐term engagement by CITES and CMS, a Programme of Work should be jointly developed by the two Secretariats, allocating responsibilities to Parties to CITES and CMS in accordance with the mandates of the two Conventions. This Programme of Work should build on the current arrangement, by which the Secretariats implement CITES and CMS Resolutions and Decisions in the framework of the ACI by setting priorities and specifying activities. c) The Programme of Work should include indicators that enable evaluating the success of implemented activities. d) The Programme of Work should identify potential partners for the implementation of activities. e) The Joint CITES‐CMS African Carnivores Initiative should have the following governance structure, pending the availability of extrabudgetary resources: (1) Triennial Range State meetings or, if funding allows, annual Range State meetings to develop policies for the conservation of the four carnivores; review the implementation of, update or renew the Joint Programme of Work (and CITES and CMS Resolutions and Decisions pertaining to the four species); and facilitate exchange of data, information and best practices.

(2) A network of National Coordinators should be established. Parties should decide on whether it would be preferred to appoint one joint national CITES‐ CMS coordinator, or two separate ones. The National Coordinators should coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Joint Programme of Work at the national level.

(3) A network of Regional Coordinators should be established in cooperation with IUCN. Synergies could be sought with existing networks, such as the IUCN Cheetah and African Wild Dog Regional Coordinators network to assist Range States in implementing the Joint Programme of Work.

(4) A Joint CITES‐CMS Programme Officer position should be established at one of the Conventions’ Secretariats to oversee the coordination of the ACI and to foster further synergies between the two Conventions. f) A Decision should be prepared by the CITES and CMS Secretariats to be submitted to CITES COP18 and CMS COP13 instructing the Secretariats to develop a Joint Programme of Work for the ACI. 24

g) In setting up the ACI, the Secretariats should look at other existing initiatives for lessons learned. h) A Resolution, setting out the fundamental principles and objectives of the ACI should be prepared by the Secretariats for adoption by CMS COP13 and CITES COP19. i) The Secretariats should jointly explore possible funding mechanisms for the ACI, including the use of the IUCN Save Our Species Conservation Action Program (SOS) Initiative and bring forward respective results.

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CMS‐CITES/ACI1/Outcomes.2

ANNEX 2 AFRICAN LION

The Range States of the four African carnivore target species attending ACI1 agreed to: a) Renewed draft CITES decisions on African Lion (Panthera leo) for consideration at the 18th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (COP18, May 2019), to be presented in the report on the Implementation of Decisions 17.241 to 17.245 on African Lion that the CITES Secretariat, in collaboration with the Chairs of the Animals and Standing Committees, will prepare and submit to CITES COP18; and b) Renewed CMS decisions on Conservation and Management of the African Lion (Panthera leo) for submission by the CMS Secretariat to CMS COP13 (February 2020).

There was no consensus amongst the Range States of African carnivores attending ACI1 on the need for the development of a CITES resolution dedicated to the African Lion.

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CMS‐CITES/ACI1/Outcomes.2

Renewed CITES Decisions on African Lion (Panthera leo) for COP18 Directed to the Secretariat 18.AA Subject to external funding, the Secretariat shall, in collaboration with African Lion Range States, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), taking into consideration, as appropriate, the Guidelines for the Conservation of Lions in Africa, and in the context of the joint CITES‐ CMS African Carnivores Initiative: a) support the implementation of activities in joint African Lion conservation plans and strategies that relate to trade in African Lion specimens and the implementation of CITES and, as needed, the review of such plans and strategies; b) support the development of an inventory of all African Lion populations across its range, and of relevant databases; c) encourage international cooperation on the conservation and management of African Lions, with particular focus on cross‐border African Lion populations; d) jointly with CMS undertake a comparative study of African Lion population trends and conservation and management practices, such as Lion hunting, within and between countries, including the role, if any, of international trade; e) support capacity building in African Lion conservation and management, including, where appropriate, in the making of non‐detriment findings by Range States and the implementation of Resolution Conf. 17.9 on Trade in hunting trophies of species listed in Appendix I or II; f) provide advice to African Lion Range States on financing the effective implementation of CITES decisions on African Lion; g) maintain a joint CITES‐CMS web portal on African Lions, that also allows for the posting and sharing of information and guidance on the conservation and management of African Lions; and h) report on progress relating to the implementation of paragraphs a) to g) to the Animals Committee and to the Conference of the Parties at its 19th meeting.

Directed to the Animals Committee 18.BB The Animals Committee shall: a) review the Guidelines for the Conservation of Lions in Africa, and formulate recommendations as appropriate for consideration by the African Lion Range States, IUCN and others, as needed; and b) consider the reports from the Secretariat and submit recommendations to the Standing Committee and the African Lion Range States, as appropriate.

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Directed to the Standing Committee 18.CC The Standing Committee shall: a) consider the reports submitted by the Animals Committee and the Secretariat, as per Decisions 18.BB and 18.DD; b) recommend actions to be taken, as needed; and c) report on the implementation of Decision 18.AA and 18.DD, and provide recommendations as appropriate, to the Conference of the Parties at its 19th meeting.

Directed to the Secretariat 18.DD The Secretariat shall: a) Pending external funding, establish and convene a CITES Big Cats Task Force (Task Force), consisting of representatives from Parties most affected by the illegal trade in big cats; the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime partner organizations; other Parties and organizations as appropriate; and experts that the Secretariat determines may contribute to the Task Force; b) Provide support to the Task Force allowing it, inter alia, to: (i) discuss enforcement and implementation issues related to the illegal trade in specimens of big cats; (ii) as deemed appropriate, exchange intelligence and other information on the illegal trade in big cats; and (iii) develop strategies and make recommendations to improve international cooperation regarding the enforcement of CITES concerning illegal trade in specimens of big cats; and c) Report the findings and recommendations of the Task Force to the Standing Committee for its consideration and make its own recommendations as appropriate.

Directed to African Lion Range States 18.EE African Lion Range States are encouraged to collaborate in implementing the decisions contained in Decisions 18.AA paragraphs a) to g), and 18.DD. Directed to all Parties, governmental, intergovernmental, non‐governmental organizations, donors and other entities 18.FF All Parties, governmental, intergovernmental, non‐governmental organizations, donors and other entities are encouraged to support the African Lion Range States and the Secretariat: a) in their efforts to conserve and restore this iconic species across the continent, taking into consideration the Guidelines for the Conservation of Lions in Africa; and b) in implementing Decisions 18.AA to 18.EE.

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CMS‐CITES/ACI1/Outcomes.2

Draft CITES decisions on African Lion (Panthera leo) for COP18 [Resulting from the Animals and Standing Committees’ review of the Lion trade study] Directed to the Secretariat 18.

XX The Secretariat shall, subject to external resources: a) conduct further research and analysis of the legal and illegal trade in Lions and other big cats to better understand trends, linkages between trade in different big cat species, and the commodities in trade which contain, or claim to contain, specimens of big cats; b) assess whether the trade in Lion specimens reported under purpose code “H” follows the guidance in Resolution Conf. 12.3, paragraph 3 h), and whether additional reporting specificities or descriptions are needed; c) develop guidance materials for the identification of Lion and other big cat specimens in trade in consultation with relevant experts; d) develop and support, in consultation with relevant experts, the use of appropriate forensic‐type techniques for identifying Lions and other big cat species in trade; and e) report on the implementation of the present decision to the Animals and Standing Committees as appropriate.

Directed to Parties 18.

XX Parties, including Range States and consumer countries of African Lions, as relevant, are encouraged to: a) increase enforcement efforts to detect illegal, unreported or miss‐reported trade in specimens of African Lion and other big cats; b) use the information generated by South Africa’s Barcode of Wildlife Project developed for priority CITES species to improve traceability when importing Lion specimens from South Africa; c) provide details on the observed and/or removed Lion body parts in trade when collecting and communicating data on illegal killing and illegal trade in Lions to CITES in annual reports; and d) cooperate on Lion conservation, including by sharing information on Lion populations, illegal killing and illegal trade.

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Directed to the Animals Committee 18.XX The Animals Committee shall review the identification materials developed as per Decision 18.xx, paragraph c) and d), and formulate recommendations to the Standing Committee, as appropriate.

Directed to the Standing Committee 18.XX The Standing Committee shall review the information reported by the Secretariat as per Decision 18.XX, and make recommendations, as appropriate, to Range States and consumer States of African Lion, and to other Parties and stakeholders, and report on the implementation of the Decision to the Conference of the Parties at its 19th meeting.

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CMS‐CITES/ACI1/Outcomes.2

ANNEX 3 LEOPARD The Range States of the four African carnivores target species attending ACI1 agreed: a) on draft CITES decisions on Quotas for Leopard hunting trophies, to be submitted for consideration at CITES COP18; b) to support the further development by IUCN of a Roadmap for the Conservation of the Leopard in Africa, which should involve: (i) consultations with all Leopard Range States in Africa; (ii) consultation with relevant stakeholders and experts concerned by the conservation and management of Leopards in Africa; (iii) sharing of advanced versions to African Range States for their review and approval; (iv) consultation with, and review of the Roadmap by the CITES Animals Committee and the CMS Scientific Council; and (v) submission to CMS COP13 in 2020; and c) that there was need for improving the capacity of Range States of African Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and African Wild Dog to monitor populations of these species, which should be addressed by developing and promoting the use of guidance for robust, cost‐ effective and reliable monitoring for the four species covered under the ACI; this work should be included in the ACI work programme, to be developed and implemented by CMS and CITES as recommended in Annex 3.

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Draft CITES Decisions on Quotas for Leopard Hunting Trophies for COP18 Directed to Parties with quotas established under Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. CoP16*) 18.AA Parties that have quotas established under Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. CoP16*) on Quotas for Leopard hunting trophies and skins for personal use, and that did not yet provide relevant information to the Animals Committee, are requested to review these quotas and consider whether these quotas are still set at levels which are non‐ detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild, and to share the outcomes of the review and the basis for the determination that the quota is not detrimental, with the Animals Committee at its 31st meeting.

18.BB All Parties which have quotas for Leopard hunting trophies established under Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. OoP16*) are encouraged to exchange information and lessons learnt regarding the process for determining that such quotas are non‐detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.

Directed to the Animals Committee 18.CC The Animals Committee shall consider the information submitted by the relevant Range States under Decision 18.AA and any other relevant information, and, if necessary, make any recommendations to these Range States and to the Standing Committee relating to the review.

18.DD The Animals Committee shall review any information submitted by the Secretariat under Decision 18.EE and make recommendations to the Secretariat and Leopard Range States, as appropriate.

18.EE The Animals Committee shall review the Roadmap for the Conservation of the Leopard in Africa by IUCN, and formulate recommendations concerning the aspects that relate to the implementation of CITES for consideration by IUCN, Range States and others as appropriate.

Directed to the Secretariat 18.FF The Secretariat shall, subject to external funding: d) support the reviews to be undertaken by Range States referred to in Decision 18.AA, upon request by a range State; e) encourage and support all Parties with quotas for Leopard hunting trophies established under Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. CoP16*) to exchange information and lessons learnt regarding the process for determining that such quotas are non‐ detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild; and f) in cooperation with Range States and relevant experts, develop guidance that can assist Parties in the making of non‐detriment findings for trade in Leopard hunting trophies in compliance with Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. CoP16*), share draft guidance with the Animals Committee for its review, make agreed guidance available on the CITES website, and encourage its use by relevant Parties.

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18.GG The Secretariat shall share with the Animals Committee the Roadmap for the Conservation of the Leopard in Africa by IUCN for its review.

Directed to the Standing Committee 18.HH The Standing Committee shall consider any recommendations of the Animals Committee made in accordance with Decision 18.c, and make its own recommendations, as appropriate, for consideration at the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

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ANNEX 4 CHEETAH AND AFRICAN WILD DOG

The Range States of the four African carnivore target species attending ACI1 agreed to: 1. Support the Regional Conservation Strategies for the Cheetah and African Wild Dog and recommend that these Strategies be used within the framework of the Joint CITES‐ CMS African Carnivores Initiative to guide the work on Cheetahs and African Wild Dogs under ACI. 2. Recommend that the ACI is in synergy with the SDG agenda, CBD agenda, and other environmental and sustainable development instruments.

3. Recommend that an educational mandate, which is currently included in Decisions 12.61 j) is taken up by the ACI to apply to all four target species.

4. Recommend that a national coordination structure, based on the existing example of the Range Wide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dog, be included in the framework of the ACI. This should include the appointment of national coordinators by Parties, and the provision of a support structure that provides training and builds capacity of the coordinators, provides a forum for regular meetings, and provides regional support and mentoring.

5. Recommend to Parties to conduct scientific research to identify specific migration routes, and work together on establishing formal protections for known national and international migration routes.

6. Recommend that policies addressing community conservation and livelihoods issues with respect to the four target species of the ACI be added under the framework of the ACI, including direct benefit to communities, and recognizing already existing case studies and examples.

7. Call for the development of new and innovative approaches that deliver sustainable benefits to those local communities that pay the costs of living alongside wildlife.

8. Note the importance of habitat protection outside of protected areas for all four target species, and specifically recognize that most Cheetahs and African Wild Dogs occur outside of protected areas.

9. Note that prey depletion is an important factor, strong pressure that goes beyond the capacity of conservation workers. Additional measures for large carnivores are needed.

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INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR GAME AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CIC Headquarters H-2092 Budakeszi P.O. BOX 82, Hungary Phone: +36 23 453 830 Fax: +36 23 453 832 E-mail: office@cic-wildlife.org www.cic-wildlife.org