Newsletter on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) with a special focus on Africa Volume 1, Issue 9 (CITES) with a special focus on Africa
April / May 2008 This Issue Dedicated to Professor ‘Hezy’ Shoshani The Africa Regional In this issue, you will Animals Committee which Bureau of the Species Sur- find information about the both took place in Geneva vival Network (SSN) results of the 17 th meeting in April 2008. You will would like to dedicate the of the Plants Committee also find information about April/May issue of CITES and the 23rd meeting of the the harmful impact of inter- Afrique to elephant expert national trade on African Professor Jeheskel "Hezy" cranes, successful wildlife Shoshani who tragically law enforcement efforts in lost his life in a minibus Kenya, the Congo and bombing in Ethiopia on Cameroon, and the publica- May 20, 2008. SSN tion of a study showing that mourns the loss of this the United States has be- passionate advocate for come one of the most im- elephant conservation portant ivory markets in the whose work will remain an world.
inspiration for SSN and its With our best wishes, Members in the years to
come. We would like to Will Travers, Shelley Wa- extend our condolences to terland and Alice Stroud, Hezy’s family and friends Professor Jeheskel « Hezy » Shoshami, SSN Africa Regional Bu- at this terrible time of loss. elephant expert, and friend of SSN. reau Latest CITES Postings and Notifications ♦The CITES Secretariat No.2008/030) ing facility for two falcon withdrew the recommenda- ♦The CITES Secretariat species and a Singapore tion to suspend trade with informed Parties that it had captive breeding facility for Ethiopia, Nepal and the distributed, for the last time, Asian arowana Sudan, but confirmed the paper copies of Parties’ (Scleropages formosus ). recommendation to suspend original CITES permits and The facilities will be in- trade with Gabon, Rwanda, certificates because all cluded in the Register on 2 and Somalia for failure to CITES permits /certificates July 2008 and 15 July 2008 submit the questionnaire used by the Parties will now respectively if no objections seeking information regard- be posted online in the fo- are received from Parties ing the control of ivory rum section of the CITES (CITES Notification Nos trade by 31 December 2007 website (CITES Notifica- 2008/031/033) (CITES Notification tion No.2008/032).A link to ♦The CITES Secretariat Nos.2008/035/025/028). the CITES sample per- informed Parties that China ♦In CITES Notification mits/certificates will be has listed four coral species No. 2006/077, the Secre- provided in the forums for in Appendix III. This listing tariat distributed a form and CITES Management Au- is scheduled to take effect explanatory notes to report thorities and Enforcement on 1 July 2008 (CITES seizures of ivory and other Authorities. Instruction for Notification 2008/027). elephant products for inclu- Parties to subscribe to the ♦The CITES Secretariat sion in the Elephant Trade forum are available at distributed a list of coun- Information System (ETIS)
Inside this issue: Important CITES Dates
African Cranes Threatened by Illegal Trade 2 • 30 June 2008: deadline for Parties to register for CITES AFRIQUE CITES AFRIQUE United States as a Major Ivory Market 2 the meeting of the Standing Committee • 1 July 2008: China Appendix III listing of coral Tribute to Jeheskel "Hezy" Shoshani 2 species takes effect. • 14-18 July 2008: 57th meeting of the Standing Results of the AC / PC meetings 3 - 4 Committee in Geneva, Switzerland Enforcement in Kenya, Cameroon and Congo 5
Capacity building corner 5
SPECIES SURVIVAL NETWORK’S AFRICA REGIONAL BUREAUSSN member and CITES species of the month 6 African Cranes Threatened by Illegal Trade Six species of crane, all listed in Trust Partnership, showed that these four A workshop organized by the IUCN/ CITES Appendix II, are present in Af- species of cranes were negatively af- SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist rica: the grey crowned crane ( Balearica fected by “the illegal removal of indi- Group (CBSG) in October 2007 decided regulorum ), the black crowned crane viduals and eggs from the wild for food, that “a proposal to upgrade the black (Balearica pavonina ), the wattled crane traditional use, domestication and illegal and grey crowned cranes from Appendix (Grus carunculatus ), the blue crane trade markets” and that “the captive II to Appendix I at the next CITES Con- (Anthropoides paradisea ), the Demoiselle populations within zoo associa-tions ference of Parties meeting would be de- crane ( Anthropoides virgo ) and the com- were unsustainable and the CITES data- veloped and promoted. Concurrently, a mon crane ( Grus grus ). All bu the com- base indicated that large numbers of review of the current status of the cranes mon crane and the Demoiselle crane are wild-caught cranes were still being would be made and a proposal for a Vul- endemic to Africa; these two species are traded.” nerable status for the black and grey winter visitors only. ♦ crowned cranes proposed. Black crowned crane ( Balearica pavonina ):):):): Two motions would also be Population: 43,000 to 70,000 ( Birdlife International 2008 ) Preliminary IUCN category: Near Threatened developed for the IUCN’s investigations car- ♦ Grey crowned crane ( Balearica regulorum ):): World Conserva-tion Con- ried out in 2006- Population: 58 000 to 77 000 ( Wetlands International 2002 ) gress to be held in 2008, 2007 on the black IUCN category: Least Concern including one on the crane crowned crane, the ♦ Wattled crane ( Grus carunculatus ):):):): trade and the other on the Population: 6000 to 8000 ( Birdlife International 2008 ) grey crowned IUCN category: vulnerable inconsisten-cies in CITES crane, the wattled data.” ( CBSG News 2008 ) ♦ Blue crane ( Anthropoides paradisea ):): crane and the blue Population: about 25,500 ( Birdlife International 2008 ) crane by the Afri- IUCN category: Vulnerable SSN fully supports this can Crane Trade ♦ Demoiselle crane ( Anthropoides virgo ):): initiative and encourages Project, under the Population: 200,000 to 240,000 ( Wetlands International 2002 ) African range States to rein- auspices of the In- IUCN category: Least Concern force national efforts for the ternational Crane ♦ Common crane ( Grus grus ):): protection of African cranes Population: 270,000 ( Wetlands International 2002 ) Foundation/ Endan- Black crowned crane ( Balearica regulorum ) IUCN category: Least Concern from the harmful effects of gered Wildlife © Embassy of Rwanda in Kenya international trade. United States Recognized as One of the Largest Ivory Markets A study, primarily funded by SSN This evidence of the existence of ille- into the country. Agents from the U.S. members Care for the Wild International, gal trade between China and the U.S. was Fish and Wildlife Service working in the the Humane Society of the United States revealed only a few months before the St Paul, U.S., area where the seizure took and Save the Elephants, has found that possible approval of China as an ivory place reported that "The market, which is the United States (U.S.) “is one of the trading partner at the next Standing Com- fueled by traditional Asian medicinal and world's leading ivory markets and fails to mittee meeting in July 2008. Results from cultural needs, is having a devastating comply with both CITES regulations and the study were published just days before effect on some of the world's most criti- its own domestic laws”. The conclusions the indictment in May 2008 of two cally endangered wild- are based on investigations of thousands American women for attempting to im- life." (www.startribune.com ). of retail outlets in 16 American cities port nearly 1400 wildlife products, in- between March and December 2006 and cluding elephant teeth and monkey parts, SSN congratulates U.S. authorities March and May 2007. for this successful seizure and encourages the US government to respond to the International ivory trade experts Dr. findings of this newly-published report Esmond Bradley Martin and Dr. Daniel by increasing its enforcement efforts Stiles reported that “There is more throughout the country to curtail the worked ivory for sale in the U.S. than harmful effects of illegal ivory trade. anywhere else in the world, except for Please don’t hesitate to contact SSN if China” and that “Large quantities of you need more information relating to worked ivory from China are illegally ivory trade or on the possible approval by the Standing Committee of China as an imported to the U.S. by individuals and Internet prices for tusks in the U.S., Dr. Martin and Dr. Stiles Report for through the Internet.” Care for the Wild International, 5 May 2008,Table 2 of report summary. ivory trading partner. SSN Mourns the Loss of Elephant Expert Jeheskel Shoshani Professor Jeheskel "Hezy" Shoshani relatives for over 35 years. Hezy estab- 25 years and at the University of Asmara was among several people killed in an lished the Elephant Research Foundation in Eritrea since 1998. Last year he moved explosion in a public minibus in down- in 1977. He published about 200 scien- to Ethiopia to teach at the University of town Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on May 20, tific articles and Addis Ababa. 2008. SSN President Will Travers said of books on ele- this loss, "For many years Hezy served as phants and ed- Hezy was a passionate advocate of our guiding light, informing and inspir- ited the publica- elephant conservation. His widow, San- ing us in the struggle to save elephants. I tion Elephant. dra Shoshani, stated: "Be strong and do consider him a friend, a colleague, and a He taught at not let Hezy's life be in vain - cherish hero. He cannot be replaced. He will not Wayne State wildlife!" Hezy's death is a tragic blow to be forgotten." University in the protection of the elephants he so Detroit, Michi- loved, the community of conservationists Hezy was an Evolutionary Biologist gan USA, for who work to save them, and to us, his and a world-renowned elephant specialist approximately Professor Jeheskel « Hezy » Shoshami, SSN family. who studied elephants and their fossil elephant expert, and friend of SSN.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 9 Page 2 Overview of the Animals Committee Results The 17 th meeting of the Plants Com- African Range States affected: Alge- whether these reviews are still required. mittee (PC) and the 23 rd meeting of the ria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burk- If a range State replies positively, it will Animals Committee (AC) took place in ina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cen- be expected to conduct the review. If the April 2008. SSN has prepared a docu- tral African Republic, Chad, Democ- answer is negative, or if no reply is re- ment to summarize the results of these ratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, ceived, the species will be deleted from meetings that will be published and dis- Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, the list and no review will be conducted. tributed to delegates in French and Eng- Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, African species in this list include: lish very soon. Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mau- ♦ Yellow-backed duiker ( Cephalophus sylvicultor ) The AC made several African Species Selected by the CITES Animals Committee African Range States af- decisions which affect forfor InclusionInclusion inin thethe ReviewReview ofof SignificantSignificant TradeTrade fected: Angola, Benin, African species. These ♦ Burkina Faso, Burundi, decisions are summarized Hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius )) All range States selected excluding Rwanda and the Democratic Cameroon, Central African below. Republic of the Congo — IUCN Category: Vulnerable (IUCN 2005) Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Review of Significant ♦ Flat ----tailedtailed geckosgeckos (Genus(Genus Uroplatus )) Republic of the Congo, Trade All species endemic to Madagascar selected Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, CITES Resolution 12.8, on IUCN Category: not assessed by IUCN Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Review of Significant Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Trade, directs the AC and ♦ Spiny leaf chameleon ((((Brookesia decaryi )) Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, the PC, in cooperation with Madagascar selected Senegal, Sierra Leone, the CITES Secretariat and Sudan, Togo, Uganda, experts, and in consultation ♦ Zambia with range States, to re- African chameleon ((((Chamaeleo africanus )) Niger only view the biological, trade Species selected for peri- and other relevant informa- odic review between tion on Appendix II spe- ♦ Fea's chameleon ((((Chamaeleo feae )) CoP13 and CoP15: cies subject to significant Equatorial Guinea only The Secretariat will publish levels of trade and to iden- IUCN Category : not assessed by IUCN a Notification to Parties tify problems and solutions identifying taxa that are concerning the implemen- ♦ Mozambique girdled lizard ((((Cordylus mossambicus )) still not under review and a tation of CITES with re- Mozambique and Zimbabwe selected call for voluntary financial gard to these species. Afri- IUCN Category : not assessed by IUCN contributions for conduct- can species selected by the ♦ ing the review of taxa for AC for the Review of Sig- Müller's sand boa ((((Gongylophis muelleri ) which no voluntary experts nificant Trade are listed in Ghana only could be identified by the the text box. IUCN Category : not assessed by IUCN AC. African species in this
♦ Rainbow burrowing frog ((((Scaphiophryne gottlebei ) list include: Periodic Review: Madagascar selected ♦ African giant toad Resolution Conf. 11.1 IUCN Category: critically endangered (IUCN 2004) (Amietophrynus super- (Rev. CoP14), on Estab- ciliaris ): lishment of Committees, Photo credits: S. Waterland (hippopotamus); Jon Boone , Lizards of the World (Flat tailed geckos); Pavel Hošek, Expedition African Range States af- recognizes that an effective Lemuria (Spiny leaf chameleon); Jeroen Speybroeck (African chameleon); Susan James (Fe’s chameleon); www.tallbo.com fected: Cameroon, Central method of evaluating (Mozambique girdled lizard) ; www.senegalaisement.com (Müller's sand boa ); M. Staniszewski (Rainbow burrowing frog ) African Republic, Republic whether a species is appro- of the Congo, Democratic priately listed in the CITES Appendices ritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Na- Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, requires a periodic review of its biologi- mibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sene- Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, cal and trade status, and resolved that the gal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Nigeria, possibly Liberia, and possibly AC and the PC are to undertake such Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Sierra Leone. reviews. Resolution Conf.14.8 establishes Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of ♦ Tomato frog ( Dyscophus antongilii ): the process for conducting these reviews. Tanzania, Western Sahara, Zambia, African Range State affected: Mada- Zimbabwe ♦ gascar. Periodic Review of African golden cat ( Profelis aurata ) ♦ Tornier’s tree-toad ( Nectophrynoides Felidae – Low Priority tornieri) : The following African cat species were African Range States affected: An- African Range State affected: Tanza- included in the periodic review of Feli- gola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, nia. dae: Cameroon, Central African Republic, ♦ ♦ Morogoro tree-toad Sand cat ( Felis margarita ) – Low Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic (Nectophrynoides viviparus ): Priority Republic of the Congo, Equatorial African Range State affected: Tanzania African Range States affected: Algeria, Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, ♦ Chad, Egypt, Mali, Mauritania, Mo- Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Osgood's Ethiopian toad rocco, Niger, Senegal, Sudan, Western Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, (Spinophrynoides osgoodi ): Sahara. Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, African Range State affected: Ethiopia ♦ Togo, Uganda Black-footed cat ( Felis nigripes ) – A summary report of the AC results is Low Priority available at < http://www.ssn.org/Meetings/ac/ African Range States affected: Angola, Periodic review of species selected ac23/SSN_AC23_Results_EN.pdf >. Please Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South prior to CoP13: For species not yet selected, the Secre- contact SSN if you have any questions or Africa, Zimbabwe if you need more information. ♦ Northern African wild cat ( Felis tariat will write to the range States con- silvestris ) – Low Priority cerned and ask for their opinion as to
Page 3 CITES AFRIQUE Actions by the Committees on Issues Relating to Capacity-Building in the African Region This section presents a brief overview of incorporation into RC10.21 (Rev. opportunities regarding the IATA the outcome of the AC and PC discussions CoP14); c) examine developments re- Live Animal Regulations; and on issues important to capacity-building in lated to the transport of live plant speci- - requesting Parties to send informa- the African region. mens for incorporation into RC10.21 tion concerning cases of high mortal- (Rev. CoP14); and d) examine regularly ity of live specimens. The TWG will ♦Regional Report to the AC for Africa: high mortality shipments of live speci- seek to identify likely causes of mor- In AC 23 Doc.5.1., Mr. Khaled Zahzah, mens and make recommendations to tality, and, where possible, make the AC representative of French-speaking relevant Parties, exporters, importers recommendations to address the and transport companies on how to identified problem. African countries, reported on CITES activities in Tunisia, Mali and Togo, the avoid this in the future.” Decision SSN ’S VIEW: SSN encourages CITES only three countries that submitted reports 14.59 directs the AC to examine new or authorities from the African region to to him for inclusion in the regional report additional references for transport of report any difficulties they encounter for the meeting. A revised document was live animals in RC 10.21 (Rev.CoP14) with having access to the IATA regula- and to report to CITES CoP15. submitted to the Committee by Dr. Rich- tions on transport of live animals by con- ard Bagine and Mr. Khaled Zahzah during OUTCOME : A joint working group of tacting the CITES Secretariat as soon as the meeting to present regional reports the AC and PC elected Andreas Kauf- possible. According to the CITES web- from Mali, Togo, Tunisia, Kenya, Ethio- mann from Austria as the new Chair- site, for issues of CITES capacity- pia, United Republic of Tanzania, Mada- man of the Transport Working Group building you can contact Stephen Nash, gascar and the Democratic Republic of the (TWG) and noted that Michael Kiehn Head of the Capacity-building Unit of the Congo. CITES Secretariat at
OUTCOME : The document was noted. [email protected]
SSN ’S VIEW: SSN encourages African ♦International Expert Workshop on Parties to initiate a process to identify Non-detriment Findings (NDFs): at CITES-related difficulties encountered CoP14, Parties agreed to an international in the African region, and to suggest workshop on non-detriment findings “the possible short-term or long-term re- main goal of which is to enhance CITES sponses to these problems. SSN en- Scientific Authorities' capacities, particu- courages CITES authorities from the larly those related to the methodologies, African region to report their difficul- tools, information, expertise and other ties to their AC representatives resources needed to formulate Mr.Khaled Zahzah from Tunisia Africa representative Richard Kiome Bagine (Kenya) at AC23 in April 2008 © 2008, IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin NDFs” (CITES Decision 14.49). The ([email protected]) and Mr. workshop will be held in Mexico on 17- Richard Kiome Bagine from Kenya 22 November 2008. The Steering Com- ([email protected]) from Austria would represent the PC on mittee in charge of the organization of this issue. this workshop includes four Party repre- ♦Secretariat Progress Report on the The AC agreed that: sentatives from the African region: Tony CITES Identification Manual: In AC23 ▪ the Chair of TWG, who will partici- Mudakikwa for Rwanda, Sonja Meintjes Doc. 17, the Secretariat proposed to turn pate in meetings of the Live Animal and for South Africa, Beatrice Khayota and the CITES Identification Manual into a Perishables Board of IATA, shall report Solomon Kyalo for Kenya. In AC23 web-based database. on developments at AC24. Doc.10, Parties were invited to contribute OUTCOME : The document was noted. ▪ the CITES Secretariat shall be asked to this workshop by sending information to provide funding to allow the Chair of detailed in AC23 Doc.10 to their AC and SSN ’S VIEW: SSN encourages CITES the TWG to monitor regular meetings PC representatives for transmission to the authorities from the African region in of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Steering Committee and co-chairmen of need of assistance with the identification Standards Commission the Working Groups. Parties attending of CITES-listed species to contact the ▪ the Chair and other members of the the AC and PC were also invited to con- CITES Secretariat and to request paper TWG shall participate in ongoing re- tact the Steering Committee and/or the copies of the Identification Manuals and views of the OIE Guidelines for the Co-chair to provide information for the other relevant resources. According to Transport of Animals by Sea and the workshop. the CITES website, for issues of CITES OIE Guidelines for the Transport of capacity-building, you can contact OUTCOME : The document was noted. Animals by Land. Stephen Nash, Head of the Capacity- ▪ the TWG will work intersessionally to SSN ’S VIEW: SSN, as a member of the building Unit of the CITES Secretariat at determine the need for and feasibility of Steering Committee, strongly supports [email protected] . Please feel free creating CITES guidelines on transport the organization of this workshop and its to contact SSN if you have any questions. of live animals by land and/or sea as a potentially positive impact on capacity- supplement to the IATA Live Animal building related to the making of detri- ♦CITES Rules on Transport of Live Regulations. ment findings in the African region. SSN Animals: As noted in AC23 Doc.16, ▪ the CITES Secretariat shall send a encourages CITES authorities from the CITES Articles III, IV and V require that Notification to the Parties: African region to contribute by contact- living specimens be prepared and shipped - requesting Parties interested in ing the workshop organizers to describe so as to minimize the risk of injury, dam- receiving a current IATA Live the difficulties they encounter in the age to health or cruel treatment. CITES Animal Regulation Manual to re- preparation of NDFs. For more informa- Resolution 10.21 (Rev. CoP14) directs spond so that the level of funds tion, please contact Mr. Hesiquio Benítez the AC to: “a) participate in meetings of needed can be assessed and the of the Steering Committee at the Live Animals and Perishables Board funds located; [email protected] or contact of IATA; b) examine additional refer- - providing IATA contact informa- the SSN Africa Regional Bureau. ences for transport of live specimens for tion to Parties to facilitate training
Page 4 CITES AFRIQUE Chinese Citizens Charged With Ivory Trafficking in Kenya
Kenyan police intercepted a Chinese Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, in scale in the recent period 1998-2006, man and woman in possession of an esti- approved at CoP14. It illustrates the real- and such seizures are primarily destined mated 110 kilograms of ivory as they ity of the concerns already expressed by for China, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR were about to board a plane to Beijing via TRAFFIC over the increase of illegal and Taiwan (Province of China), which Doha, Quatar. The ivory seized was in ivory trade involving China at CoP14: now functions largely as an integrated the form of elephant ivory tusks of un- “The occurrence of large-scale seizures market.” (TRAFFIC report to CoP14, known origin and cut into pieces. If found has become far more frequent and larger June 2007) guilty, the suspects can be charged with a maximum one-year jail sentence and a SSN warmly congratulates Kenya fine of up to 10,000 shillings ($163) (The for its successful enforcement efforts and Associated Press, 15 May 2008). encourages African elephant range States to contact the African Regional Repre- This seizure of elephant ivory des- sentatives of the Standing Committee to tined for China occurs as the CITES express any concerns they may have over Standing Committee is about to discuss, the continued rise of seizures of ivory in July 2008, the possible approval of destined for China. Please don’t hesitate China as a trading partner for a one-off to contact SSN if you need more informa- sale of stockpiled ivory from Botswana, tion. Arrest of Cyber-Criminals in the Republic of Congo and in Cameroon Since 1996, the Noire in February 2008 for illegally trad- suspect involved in illegally trading pro- Republic of the ing in elephant ivory over the Internet. tected wildlife species online in Southern Congo has been the The suspect, who was found to have been Cameroon. The South West Provincial only French-speaking involved in several illegal shipments of Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife ar- African country to ivory to the US and to Europe, had in his rested a man suspected of trying to sell become a member of possession at least 14 artifacts made of wildlife online and of carrying out inter- the Lusaka Agree- elephant ivory. These were confiscated as national fraud schemes involving falsifi- ment on Cooperative evidence at his home. African elephants cation of government documents, includ- Enforcement Opera- are fully protected in the Republic of the ing the use of a falsified CITES permit for export of a chimpanzee to Belgium. tions Directed at Ille- Congo. gal Trade in Wild Use of the Internet, which allows The arrest of internet wildlife traf- Fauna and Flora (the rapid, remote and anonymous transac- fickers comes after an appeal made at other members are Zambia, the Kingdom tions, is possibly one of the fastest grow- CoP14 to governments to increase efforts of Lesotho, Tanzania, Kenya and ing trends in illegal international wildlife in combating illegal internet wildlife Uganda; Ethiopia and South Africa). trade. The use of the Internet by traffick- trade and fraud. SSN warmly congratu- After a 12-month undercover operation, ers is not limited to trading wildlife prod- lates the government of the Republic of the Congo National Bureau to the Lusaka ucts or derivatives, but also applies to live Congo and the government of Cameroon Agreement and the National Central Bu- animals. The arrest of an alleged cyber- for this success in stopping the perpetra- reau of Interpol arrested a Cameroonian criminal in the Republic of Congo was tion of Internet crimes. national residing in the city of Pointe followed in April 2008 by the arrest of a Well-Known Ivory Smuggler Arrested in the Republic of Congo On 28th April 2008, officers from carve ivory. Many of the ivory items in Brazzaville. SSN member the Last Great Ape Organi- were reported to be zation (LAGA), the Congo National Bu- carved as chopsticks SSN wishes to warmly congratulate reau to the Lusaka Agreement, the Gen- (sold for US$ 20 per the Congolese authorities for this un- darmerie, and the Lusaka Agreement pair) and hankos precedented success, which illustrates Task Force arrested a notorious suspected (name seals) des- their commitment to the strong enforce- ivory smuggler in Brazzaville, Republic tined for the Asian ment of CITES. SSN encourages the gov- of Congo. A search of the trafficker’s market. The suspect ernment of the Republic of Congo to house resulted in the seizure of three is now awaiting trial continue its fight against illegal interna- leopard skins, 671 ivory carvings repre- Ivory seized in the Re- tional trade to secure the preservation of senting a gross weight of about 41kg, and public of Congo—picture protected species in the region. the confiscation of equipment used to provided by LAGA. Capacity-building Corner Useful publications: ♦ Martin and Stiles , “Ivory Markets in Useful websites: ♦ Boere, Galbraith, Stroud, “Waterbirds the USA” published by SSN members ♦
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 9 Page 5 SSN Member of the Month: The Environmental InvestigationInvestigation AgencyAgency (EIA)(EIA)
Organization Profile:
SPECIESSpecies SURVIVALSurvival NETWORK’SNetwork’s Date of creation: 1984 AFRICAAfrica RegionalREGIONAL BureauBUREAU Mission Statement: To investigate, expose and campaign against the illegal trade in wildlife Working within CITES to facilitate the and the destruction of our natural environment. participation of African countries Offices located in: London, UK and Washington DC, USA. participation of African countries Projects in Africa located in: Sub-Sahara region and East Africa Anglophone Africa: Francophone Africa: Website: http://www.eia-international.org
Undercover investigations led in col- Local Project: Undercover investigations led in col- laborationlaboration withwith governments,governments, enforcementenforcement agenciesagencies aand internationalinternational conventions.conventions. Using undercover investigations, and in-depth back- ground research and advocacy at the highest levels of Will Travers, Shelley Waterland, Alice Stroud, President Coordinator Coordinator government, EIA is able to present incontrovertible evi- dence of environmental crime and abuse, together with Species Survival Network Species Survival Network effective solutions and a powerful rationale for action. EIA c/o Born Free Foundation 1340 Wilford Ave 3 Grove House; Foundry Lane Klamath Falls, OR 97601 investigators gather unique film, photos and information USA Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 5PL, from around the world and work with governments, en- EIA led a campaign to ban trade in rhinoc- UK Tel/Fax: 1 541 850 9868 forcement agencies and international conventions to eros horns in Asia - Photo provided by EIA. Tel: +44-403-240170 Email: Fax: +441-403-327-838 [email protected] mobilize political will for the protection of wildlife and the E-mail: [email protected]; environment. EIA then uses the skills it gains during its work around the world to empower [email protected] others. This empowerment creates networks to support local people and to contribute to skills www.ssn.org sharing and information gathering in all the countries where EIA operates. Contact Information: Call for local representation Mary Rice, Head of Campaigns The Species Survival Network’s Africa Regional Bureau is EIA engaged in a capacity building effort which involves local 62-63 Upper Street non-governmental organizations and the Press. Please LONDON N1 0NY do not hesitate to contact us if you need help with CITES T: +44 (207) 354 79 60 issues, if you wish to submit article ideas for the newslet- F: +44 (207) 354 79 61 E:Email: [email protected] [email protected] ter or if you wish to apply for SSN membership.
CITES Protected Species of the Month
♦ Name: fern, fougère ( Alsophila manniana) ♦ Name: Black crowned crane; grue couronnée
(no common name) Hihhhttp://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/about/links.htm#tu (Balearica pavonina ) ♦ CITES listing: Appendix II. ♦ CITES listing: Appendix II ♦ CITES export quotas: no export quotas ♦ CITES Export Quotas: no export quota reported reported for 2008 (see < http://www.cites.org/ for 2008 (see < http://www.cites.org/common/quotas/2008/ common/quotas/2008/ExportQuotas2008.pdf >) ExportQuotas2008.pdf >) ♦ ♦ Alsophila manniana CITES Trade levels (WCMC trade data- CITES Trade levels (WCMC trade database included in CITES base 2007): 16 dried plants were exported 2008): between 2000 and 2007, exports of black- Appendix II © Wursten between 2000 and 2007 for Alsophila species. crowned cranes amounted to 23 feathers, 1056 live Exporters were Equatorial Guinea and Cuba. animals, 4 skins, 2 specimens and 2 trophies. Main Importers were Spain and the United States. Black crowned- exporters were Sudan and Guinea; main importers ♦ IUCN category: not yet assessed by IUCN crane ( Balearica were the United Arab Emirates and France. pavonina ) listed in ♦ ♦ Threats: Habitat loss/degradation; collection for trade CITES Appendix II IUCN category: Near Threatened (IUCN 2006) ♦ Range States : Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Côte ♦ Threats: Habitat loss/degradation; hunting for con- d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, sumption and international trade; illegal captures for Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozam- the pet industry; pollution bique, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, Sierra Leone, ♦ Range States : Benin (breeding: br), Burkina Faso (br), Burundi, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe Cameroon (br?), Central African Republic (br), Chad (br), Côte ♦ Useful resources:
Page 6 CITES AFRIQUE