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REPORT ON THE APRIL, 1995 CITES IMPLEMENTATION WORKSHOP IN BANGLADESH Prepared By John Brooks, Special Agent-Law Enforcement Sheila Einsweiler, Senior Wildlife Inspector-Law Enforcement Mark Phillips, Biologist-Office of Management Authority Supported By The Bangladesh Office of the Chief Conservator of Forest USAID's United States-Asia Environmental Partnership U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service August 9, 1995 A PROGRAM OF THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The United States-Asia Environmentai Partnership (USAEP) of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Office of International Affairs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have joined in partnerships with the wildlife management agencies of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, indonesia and The Philippines to present workshops on the imple entation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). The purpose of this program is to provide basic, practical training in the provisions of CITES, the reasons why they were developed, and their irmplementation. ATn emphasis is placed on CITES administration, w-idlife inspection, law enforcement investigation technicues and species identification. The Bangladesh workshop was the second to be presented in the series of five. In Bangladesh the partnership was formed with the Ministry of Environment and Forest. The workshop was held at the Bana Bhaban, Mohakhali, Dhaka from April 22 to 26, 1995. The Fish Wildlife and Service instructor team was in Bangladesh from April 17 to 29. The workshop was presented to twenty-four participants drawn from the Office of the Chief Conservator of Forest, Police, Customs, and one member of a non-governmental organization. It was chaired by Dr. Shamsur Rahman, Chief Conservator of Forest In­ charge with Mr. Syed Amir-ul-Mulk, Additional Secretary In­ charge. The workshop initially focused on CITES background information including history, structure and objectives of CITES; the history of CITES in Bangladesh; an overview of the CITES's process in Bangladesh and a review of the national laws relative to wildlife law enforcement. It then went on to discussions relevant to CITES administration including definitions, the species included on the CITES appendices, and the principles and procedures for use of the different appendices. The discussions of the second day covered procedures for specimens bred in captivity; global and regional trade concerns; quotas; re-exports; the annual report and how to use it; how read to a CITES document; presentation of the CITES document of Bangladesh and methods of document analysis. By the third day attention turned to types of document fraud and inspection techniques. This included training on types of inspections (in particular passenger baggage, air/ocean cargo and land/border inspections); smuggling techniques; safety practices for i inspectors; humane shipping requirements; and disposition and use of confiscated specimens. The fourth day of the workshop emphasized wildlife law enforcement including wildlife legislation, training to conduct needs, how a criminal investigation, investigation techniques, and case profiles. The fifth and final day of the included program presentations on the Service's National Wildlife Forensic Laboratory and how it can assist Bangladesh; establishing an international wildlife law enforcement program and species identification. Mr. Syed Amir-ul-Mulk led the closing ceremonies. The major accomplishment of this workshop was the presentation of the CITES implementation training to Bangladesh's Management Authority and enforcement agencies involved in control of illegal trade in wildlife. The participants now have an awareness increased of the different roles that they and their agencies play in the implementation and enforcement of CITES. Of equal significance to the training presented was the opportunity created by the workshop for various agencies responsible for enforcing wildlife trade laws to meet and discuss issues. The authors of this report suggest consideration be given to the following. 0 Legislation surrounding the wildlife trade be analyzed for needed changes. Currently, Bangladesh cannot fulfill its obligations under CITES with respect to the plant trade. 0 Officials of the government's wildlife conservation agency consider meeting frequently with customs officials for coordination and training purposes. * Domestic enforcement of the wildlife laws be emphasized. * A joint regional meeting or event be held to facilitate interaction with the countries of the Indian subcontinent (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan). This workshop was a very good beginning point for CITES training in Bangladesh. It is clear that Bangladesh has a strong legislative structure with which to address wildlife issues. trade However it must be stressed that stronger interagency coordination is needed and additional opportunities to reinforce the training of personnel and implementation procedures of the CITES should be encouraged both within Bangladesh and between Bangladesh and neighboring countries. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to thank Dr. Shamsur Rahman, Chief Conservator of Forest In-charge and Mr. Syed Amir-ul-Mulk, Additional Secretary In-charge for chairing the workshop. The Ministry is thanked for hosting and sharing the costs workshop. of the Mr. Sayed Salamat All, Mr. M.A. Sattar and Mr. A.H.M. Monzural Karim are thanked for their organization of workshop. the The personnel of the Ministry and the other attending agencies are recognized for their ccntributions to workshop discussions and for their excellent presentations. We thank USAID's United States-Asia Environmental Partnership for their funding support. The USAID Mission in Bangladesh thanked is for the logistical assistance t.ey provided. Environment Canada is thanked for provision of their CITES Identification Guide to Birds to each workshop participant. Finally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Office of International Affairs is thanked for their management of the CITES Implementation Training Program for Asia and the international coordination of this workshop. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................... 1 CITES in Bangladesh ........................................ 1 Organization .......................................... 1 Legal Authority ....................................... 1 International Wildlife Trade .......................... 2 In-Country Wildlife Trade ............................. 3 Workshop Implementation .................................... 3 Conduct of the Workshop ............................... 3 Financial Support ..................................... 4 Accomplishments............................................5 Recommendations and Conclusions ............................ 5 APPENDICES: I. Sample Annual Report II. Sample CITES export permit for frog legs III. Sample CITES import permit IV. Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) (Amendment) Act, 1974 V. List of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and game reserves of Bangladesh VI. List of extinct wildlife VII. List of Endangered Wildlife VIII. Fish and Wildlife Service Instructor Schedule IX. List of Participants X. Program Agenda XI. Expenditures for presentation of CITES Implementation Workshop in Bangladesh XII. Two newspaper articles iv INTRODUCTION: The United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (USAEP) of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Office of International Affairs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have joined in partnerships with the wildlife management agencies of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Indonesia and The Philippines to present workshops on the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). The purpose of this programn is to provide basic, practical training in the provisions of CITES, the reasons why they were developed, and their implementation. An emphasis is placed on CITES administration, wildlife inspection, law enforcement investigation techniques and species identification. The program of workshops was preceded by a November 8, 1994, meeting at the Ninth Conference of Parties (COP) to the CITES treaty and by a U.S. study tour on CITES implementation (January 28 to February 4, 1995). The meeting at the COP allowed the representatives of the USAEP, the Service an: the five Asian countries to assess interest in the training program and initiate formation of the partnerships necessary for presentation of the training. The study tour further developed interest in the training among the host countries by proviaing training to senior officials of those countries in U.S. CITES implementation techniques. The personal relationships developed with these ficials on the tour have proven useful in facilitation of workshop coordination. In Bangladesh the partnership for presentation of the workshop was formed with the Ministry of Environment and Forest. The Bangladesh workshop was the second in the series of five. CITES IN BANGLADESH Organization: Bangladesh became a.signatory to CITES in 1973 when the treaty was first initiated, but it was not until 1982 that legislation was ratified and CITES became effective for Bangladesh. The Chief Conservator of Forest is the CITES Management Authority. The Conservator of Forest, Wildlife Circle is the assistant Management Authority for issuance of CITES export permits (Appendix I, II, and III). The Bangladesh Wildlife Advisory

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