Original language: English PC24 Doc. 30.5 CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA ___________________ 1. Twenty-fourth meeting of the Plants Committee Geneva (Switzerland), 20, 21 and 23-26 July 2018 Regional matters Regional reports NORTH AMERICA 1. This report, covering the period from June 2017 to April 2018 was prepared by Hesiquio Benítez Díaz, Alternate Regional Representative for North America, in collaboration with CITES Authorities of Canada, Mexico and the United States.* 2. Overview of Major Developments 2.1 Periodic Review Mexico a) At the last meeting of the Plants Committee (PC23; Geneva 2017), Mexico volunteered to undertake the periodic review of two species of flora listed in Appendix I: Ariocarpus retusus and Ceratozamia hildae. The Mexican Scientific Authority is consulting with potential experts and securing funding for their development. United States of America b) The United States will provide results of the periodic review of Lewisia serrata (Portulacaceae) for Committee input at the present meeting. 2.2 Non-detriment findings: Canada a) Canada maintains Standing NDF Reports for frequently traded species including two commonly traded Canadian plants: American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). A review of these reports is conducted after every Conference of the Parties or when new substantive information becomes available. The Standing NDF Reports for terrestrial species and the science advice used as a basis for the NDFs for marine species are available on the Environment Canada website at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate- change/services/convention-international-trade-endangered-species/non-detriment-findings.html. * The geographical designations employed in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the CITES Secretariat (or the United Nations Environment Programme) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The responsibility for the contents of the document rests exclusively with its author. PC24 Doc. 30.5 – p. 1 b) The Canadian network of CITES scientific authorities keep in regular contact to discuss Canada’s interests and challenges regarding national implementation of the scientific aspects of CITES, to provide advice and comments on Canada’s international activities, and to develop and revise species-specific Standing NDF Reports. United States of America c) Red List Assessment of Goldenseal: Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) has been ranked Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, according to their assessment published in November 2017 (see: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/full/44340011/0). This medicinal plant is harvested primarily for its root and was included CITES Appendix II in 1997. Goldenseal is a slow-growing perennial plant native to the Appalachian mountains in the eastern United States and southern Canada. The Red List review was prepared by NatureServe, as the North American Plant Red List Authority, and is based on a range-wide status review, commissioned by the U.S. CITES Authority in 2012 (see:http://explorer.natureserve.org/). The United States uses the information from this assessment in making its non-detriment findings. Mexico d) In compliance with Article IV of the Convention and Res. Conf. 14.7 (Rev. CoP17), during the period at hand, CONABIO has formulated a total of 231 NDFs for species of flora, covering a total of 7 Appendix II species: Euphorbia antisyphilitica, Swietenia macrophylla, Dalbergia retusa, Dalbergia granadillo, Guaiacum sanctum, Opuntia streptacantha and Opuntia cholla. Of these, the majority (76%) have been on E. antisyphylitica (candelilla). Likewise, CONABIO has formulated a total of 122 technical opinions on the management plans to guide the sustainable harvest of Euphorbia antisyphilitica, Swietenia macrophylla, Dalbergia retusa, Dalbergia granadillo and Guaiacum sanctum; where again, the great majority (96%) correspond to candelilla. 2.3 Capacity-building Canada a) On April 24-26, 2018, the Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada hosted a Timber Identification Workshop at its research center in Quebec City, Quebec. The workshop focused on opportunities to apply science capacity to increase current ability to identify CITES- and non-CITES listed tree species and their geographic origins. The workshop, which included 27 participants, featured presentations from a diverse group of global experts, including from the US Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Global Timber Tracking Network, the Thünen Institute, the European Forest Institute, Forest Stewardship Council International, New Mexico State University, and many others. Presentations were made on current and emerging wood identification techniques including DNA analysis, chemical imaging and DART-MS chemical fingerprints, macro- and microscopic identification of wood and fibre samples, and exploration of existing databases and collections. Approaches to economic analysis of illegal forest product trade, and ongoing international initiatives that offer opportunities for collaboration were also presented. This work reflects Canada’s interest in the application and development of science to better track forest commodities in trade and, through national and international collaboration, contribute to global efforts to address illegality in forest harvesting and international forest product trade. United States of America b) Through two partnerships, one with Atecma Asesores Tecnicos de Medio Ambiente (ATECMA) and another with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) with funding from USAID is supporting 16 professionals from 12 countries in Central America (6), South America (1), the Caribbean (4), and Central Africa (1), to participate in the Master’s Degree Program on the Management and Conservation of Species in Trade: the International Framework (aka CITES Master’s Course) from April 2017 – March 2018 in Spain. The partnership with WCS further aims to strengthen country and regional-level capacity for CITES in Central America and the Caribbean by supporting the development of non-detriment findings (NDFs), improving availability of data on illegal trade in CITES-listed species, and increasing knowledge of emerging regional illegal wildlife trade threats and rapidly developing markets. PC24 Doc. 30.5 – p. 2 c) In partnership with Wildlife Impact and in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Angola (MINAMB), the USFWS is supporting efforts to strengthen CITES capacity and enhance enforcement of wildlife crime law in Angola with a specific focus to counter wildlife trafficking in Maiombe National Park and surrounding areas of Cabinda Province. d) The US Forest Service(USFS) provided expertise to an “Illegal Logging, Land Use and Related Crimes” training workshop in Sumatra, Indonesia in November 2017. This week-long training brought together the relevant agencies and local officials, along with NGOs, to develop practices, including the possible creation of working groups or task forces, to monitor, investigate and prosecute crimes involving the destruction of forest lands. Organized and funded by Interpol, UNODC and the DOJ office, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training (OPDAT), this training provides an excellent opportunity to share expertise on illegal logging and the Lacey Act with Indonesian counterparts. A USFS expert led a session focused on best practices for forensic timber identification. e) Through CAFTA-DR funding and the Global Illegal Logging program, US Forest Service supported the implementation of the Xylotron wood ID device in Peru, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua through a workshop in July 2017, and follow-up trainings. These series of trainings for scientists and environmental law enforcement, involve macroscopic wood identification using traditional methods as well as use of the Xylotron machine vision tool, including preparation of samples, capture of images, and use of the Xylotron reference database. US Forest Service donated xyloscopes and laptops to partner in all four countries, as well as table saws and sanders for sample preparation in Guatemala and Peru. These partner laboratories are now supporting the development of a Central America database for timber species. f) DOI-ITAP: With funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (DOS-OSE), unless otherwise indicated, the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of International Affairs via their International Technical Assistance Program (DOI-ITAP) engaged in the following activities: - Honduras CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs Council Points of Contact Meeting (March 21-22, 2018). DOI-ITAP, as an implementer of CAFTA-DR environmental cooperation projects in the region, presented its 2017-2018 activities, which included results of the 7th annual Central American and Dominican Republic Wildlife Enforcement Network (CAWEN/ROAVIS) meeting and CITES capacity-building efforts in the region. - Honduras Regional CITES Coordination Meeting (February 19, 2018). DOI and the Regional CITES Representative (Guatemala) organized a meeting for CITES officials from Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama to share information and ideas re: CITES issues of mutual interest or concern. These officials then attended the 7th