CITES turists, captive breeding and avian con referred to a speCial committee for fur servation. It was decided that AF;\ had ther consideration and recommenda Aviculture and You to become a major player at the CITES tion. AFA's CITES Chair is a member of by AI McNabney, Chair, conventions and meetings. that committee. AFA CITES Committee The Animals Committee Has Conservation and Aviculture The CITES Animals Committee Been Well Served? (7'l'n old saying: "One bird in plays an important role in CITES deci As reported at the last 1995 AFA a..the hand is worth two birds sions and policy making process. The Board Meeting, CITES delegates have, in the bush." Maybe, but those who Ft. Lauderdale meeting covered captive over the life ofthe organization, divided participate in CITES activities won't breeding issues and the transportation up the world's wildlife. Governments agree. To you, as an aviculturist, either of birds, to name just a couple of have sent delegates to CITES conven rank amateur or professional making a important subjects. Clearly, the trans tions who understand little or nothing living through captive breeding, the port of birds within the United States about aviculture or the knowledge that decisions and policies adopted by and around the world via air has been exists in the avicultural community. CITES delegates may be the last word. affected by policies initiated at such Representatives of many organizations So What Is CITES? meetings. The International Air have agendas totally inimical to captive After years of urging and prodding, Transport Association (lATA) has draft breeding or avian conservation in on 3 March 1973, 21 (now about 125) ed and from time to time implemented aviaries and in the wild. As a result, countries Signed the Convention on proposed rules to govern shipments of there appears to be very little under International Trade in Endangered birds by air. AFA has had limited input standing of aviculture, its proponents, Species of Wild Fauna and Flora into such policy matters. Issues and the important progress that has (CITES), The Convention was actually involved in the captive breeding of been made through captive breeding approved 1 July 1975. So CITES was endangered avian species have long of avian species. born. The CITES preamble carries this been considered by CITES delegates. What Now? message: Again, unfortunately, there has been AFA's President and Board of Wild fauna and flora in their very limited input from pro-aviculture Directors have made a determination many beautiful and varied forms are an irreplaceable part of the natural people. that AFA will be involved in CITES in a systems of the earth which must be At the same time, various organiza meaningful way. AFA will be partici preserved for this and the generations tions such as the Royal Society for the pating in CITES meetings and conven to come. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the tions consistent with available funding Now, 20 years later, why should Humane Society of the United States, and the importance of the event to anyone interested in aviculture be writ and the Environmental Investigative conservation and aviculture. ing about CITES in an avicultural mag Agency have prepared extensive "So why should I care about that?" azine? Unknown to most aviculturists, reports covering many topics and asks an AFA member. In response, we CITES has had, is having and will con phases dealing with avian matters. can assert that, clearly, CITES has tinue to have a major impact on avian Such reports seem to have been already had a substantial impact on conservation, aviculture, captive breed accepted by CITES Delegates as factu aviculture. It can also be assumed that ing and perpetuation of endangered al. had the avicultural community been avian species. The Animals Committee (with AFA fully involved in CITES since it was cre AFA's Role participating fully) met in Antigua, ated, there is at least the possibility that AFA leaders, recognizing that CITES Guatemala 11-14 September 1995. the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 was affecting aviculture, sent represen Among reports provided by NGOs would never have been promulgated. tatives to CITES Conventions, held were "Mortality of Birds," RSPCA; It is also likely that future CITES every two years. That participation, "Comments On the Regulations meetings will give attention to matters while valuable, failed to recognize the Governing Captive Breeding of CITES involving captive breeding of avian full import and impact of CITES on listed Specimens," EIA; "Bird Species species. The policies resulting from avian matters. With High Transport Mortality such considerations may well become In 1994, AFA's president, Laurella Imported Into the U.S. 1989-1992," part ofthe WBCA unless aviculture car Desborough, supported by the Board HSUS. ries its own lamp and tells its own of Directors, recognized the impor A major item on the Animals story. tance of CITES to aviculture. This Committee agenda involved the whole Support Essential despite the enactment of the Wild Bird issue of "captive breeding of endan AFA is committed to future CITES Conservation Act of 1992. The 1994 gered species." AFA prepared a posi participation as the organization in the CITES convention held in Fort tion which was presented during this United States that speaks in a mean Lauderdale, Florida, brought together meeting. Throwing that .rock into the ingful way for avian conservation and about 125 nations ofthe world, plus the pond created so many ripples that captive breeding as a major part ofthat largest contingent of Non-Government there was no pOSSibility of any con conservation. AFA also speaks for avi Organizations (NGOs) that hadever par sensus. CITES decisions are made culture and the future ofavian species. ticipated in a CITES convention. The when there is a consensus. Since there AFA's commitment must have the AFA participates in cites as a NGO. was no consensus Charles Dauphine, a financial and philosophical support of Attendance at the Ft. Lauderdale con Canadian who chaired the subcommit bird breeders, owners of pet birds and vention convinced AFA's representa tee meeting, announced that the issues the entire industry that has grown up tives that much was at stake for avicul- involved in captive breeding would be around bird keeping. >t-
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