Doc. 10.50 (Rev.) Interpretation and Implementation of the Convention CONSERVATION OF EDIBLE-NEST SWIFTLETS OF THE GENUS COLLOCALIA Background Sarawak Bird's Nest Import & Export Association and Swan International. 1. At the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Fort Lauderdale, United States of America, 7-18 12. The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the Ani- November 1994), a proposal to include edible-nest mals Committee. swiftlets of the genus Collocalia (Aves, Apodiformes) in 13. During the meeting there were two plenary sessions Appendix II of CITES was submitted by Italy. (first and fourth days). Following the formal opening 2. The aim of the proposal was to regulate trade in nests ceremony on the first day, the plenary session received of four species (Collocalia fuciphaga, Collocalia a background presentation by the Earl of Cranbrook on germani, Collocalia maxima and Collocalia unicolor), the biology of edible-nest swiftlets. Reports from repre- trade that has increased notably in the past 10 years. sentatives of range States were presented on current The inclusion of these four species was proposed in management of the wild resource and regulation of the accordance with Article II.2(a) and the inclusion of the industry utilizing swiftlet nests. The second day was rest of the genus in accordance with Article II.2(b) of devoted to a field excursion to enable participants to the Convention. view swiftlet "house-farming", which is practised widely in urban centres in the Province of East Java. Partici- 3. The proposal was withdrawn by Italy. However a pants were divided into two working groups on the third resolution on the conservation of these birds was day. One working group examined management and drafted, in collaboration with range States, and was research requirements for the conservation and adopted by the Conference of the Parties as Resolu- sustainable use of wild populations of edible-nest tion Conf. 9.15 (Annex 1). swiftlets. The other working group reviewed existing 4. In Resolution Conf. 9.15 the Conference of the Parties legislation and the regulatory controls in range and initiated two different courses of action. Firstly, it urged consumer States. The workshop reconvened in ple- range States to: nary session on the fourth day to review the conclu- sions reached by each working group and to adopt 5. – encourage scientific research to promote the recommendations. sustainability of nest harvesting through standard- ized management programmes; Conclusions and Recommendations of the Workshop 6. – explore ways of enhancing participation of repre- 14. Edible nest swiftlets are widespread and abundant sentatives of the bird-nest industry in swiftlet con- across their historical range. Their aggregate popula- servation and sustainable-use programmes; and tions are estimated as tens of millions, based on cur- rent yields from nest harvesting. Despite documented 7. – review regulations controlling harvesting of wild- declines in some cave populations, there is no imme- breeding swiftlet populations, in accordance with diate conservation risk. the results of the scientific research carried out under paragraph 5. 15. The taxonomy of the swiftlets is confusing, with several different nomenclatures in use (Sibley and Monroe, 8. Secondly, it requested the CITES Secretariat to con- 1990, followed by CITES; Chantler and Driessens, vene a technical workshop to establish conservation 1995; Cranbrook et al., 1996). There is no obligation priorities and actions to achieve sustainability of swift- on scientists or managers to use any one nomencla- let-nest harvesting. ture either now or in the future but there should always 9. Thanks to contributions from the Governments of Italy be a clear indication of which is being used. Er et al. and Japan, the Sarawak Bird’s Nest Import & Export (1995) provide a list of synonyms which may assist Association, the Bird’s Nest Trade Association of people in understanding the situation more fully. Singapore, TRAFFIC East-Asia, WWF International, 16. The management of swiftlets should incorporate care- WWF Italy and the C&M Foundation, the Secretariat ful consideration of the environmental, social, eco- was able to convene the workshop in Surabaya nomic and legal circumstances prevailing in the coun- (Indonesia) from 4 to 7 November 1996. Moreover, the tries in which they occur, in conjunction with broader Swiftlet Nest Association of Indonesia generously national objectives and priorities. funded the local accommodation expenses and the Government of Indonesia kindly hosted the workshop. 17. The goal of management should be to ensure that the conservation of swiftlets and that the harvest of edible 10. The agenda is annexed to this document as Annex 2. nests is sustainable. Annual recruitment to cave The Workshop populations is necessary to achieve sustainability. In the absence of definitive information on the effects of 11. The meeting was attended by 100 participants. The nest harvesting, each pair should be able to produce following countries were represented, by the staff of one brood per year, fledging at the optimal season. Management Authorities or Scientific Authorities or Consideration should be given, where appropriate, to both: Bhutan (non Party), China (including its Province the granting of clearly defined, long-term rights for nest of Taiwan), India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, the harvesting in swiftlet caves (through ownership or Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, the United leasing). Co-operation among nest harvesters, nest Kingdom (including Hong Kong) and Viet Nam. The traders, regulatory and monitoring agencies will facili- following observers were represented: TRAFFIC tate the process of management to achieve sustain- South-East Asia, World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Wild- able harvest. life Management International, Edible Bird's Nest Mer- chants (Hong Kong), the Bird's Nest Trade Association 18. The meeting has brought to light a considerable of Singapore, the Indonesian Bird's Nest Association, amount of knowledge and research pertaining to the the Indonesian Swiftlets Lovers Association, the management of swiftlets. It would be valuable for this 699 to be made more widely available throughout the the basis for collecting and maintaining data on range States. A review of this research would identify trade in swiftlet nests. information gaps and would help to target future 36. – Categories for raw/processed nest material and research. The research undertaken in swiftlet houses manufactured products should be incorporated into undoubtedly contributes to understanding of cave the recording systems. swiftlets and their management needs. 37. – The CITES Secretariat should write to the World Structure Customs Organization (WCO) to explore the pos- 19. To guide and co-ordinate research and management sible development and adoption of harmonized on edible-nest swiftlets, and reassess priorities on the uniform standards, codes and categories for basis of new information, a Steering Committee should recording trade in commodities from the edible be established under the auspices of the ASEAN nests of swiftlets. Working Group on Forestry. 38. – Until such time as a new Customs nomenclature is Management introduced by the WCO, all countries that allow export, import or re-export of edible swiftlet nests 20. Ensuring the sustainability of swiftlet nest harvesting should recognize and apply the Harmonized will also require attention to the following: Commodity System, Code 04.10.00 (nests) and 21. – monitoring of cave populations – this can be done 21.04.10 (soup) in their national trade statistics and by population survey and/or trade data. Trade data should record trade data for these items. give minimum estimates of total population size. 39. – Exchange of information on illegal trade within the Population surveys should use standardized tech- region, especially to identify illegal trade routes and niques and practical sampling strategies; the movements of the individuals concerned is 22. – mechanisms for controlling harvests; encouraged. 23. – ability to adapt management in the light of new 40. – Legislation for all range States and consumer information or results of monitoring; countries should be reviewed to assist all countries in the region to understand and address the issue 24. – periodic reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of of illegal trade. management regimes; 41. – Range States and importing countries should pro- 25. – in the interest of conserving the genetic integrity of vide to the Secretariat, as soon as possible, a list of wild populations, establishment of swiftlet nest their legislation related to swiftlet nests, to be houses undertaken using local stock; and included in the document that the Secretariat will 26. – the participation of local communities in manage- present to the 10th meeting of the Conference of ment, noting that enabling them to share economic the Parties. benefits is likely to increase the effectiveness of 42. – The authority for administering legislation control- harvest regulations. ling the harvest and export of edible-nest swiftlet Research materials should be vested in the wildlife conserva- tion agency of each range State. 27. Research should be promoted in the following areas: 43. – Subject to the availability of resources, the pro- 28. – standardization and development of monitoring posed Steering Committee should undertake, or techniques. This should include a clear under- commission, an independent review