UNEP-WCMC technical report Analysis of 2014 CITES export quotas (Version edited for public release) 2 Analysis of 2014 CITES export quotas Prepared for The European Commission, Directorate General Environment, Directorate E - Global & Regional Challenges, LIFE ENV.E.2. – Global Sustainability, Trad e & Multilateral Agreements , Brussels, Belgium Published April 2014 Copyright European Commission 2014 Citation UNEP-WCMC. 2014. Analysis of 2014 CITES export quotas. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge. The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the specialist biodiversity assessment centre of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organization. The Centre has been in operation for over 30 years, combining scientific research with policy advi ce and the development of decision tools. 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Contents 3 Executive summary ................................................................................................................................ 4 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Species with new quotas in 2014 ........................................................................................................... 8 Species with increased quotas in 2014 ................................................................................................. 9 Species with decreased quotas in 2014 ................................................................................................ 12 4 Executive summary This report analyses the newly published 2014 CITES export quotas and highlights any cases that may potentially require particular attention by the SRG and/or further in-depth review. The selection of 2014 quotas that may require further review is summarised in Table 1. Noting that the quota levels published by Guyana have increased for several species (substantially in some cases) in 2014 compared to 2013, the SRG may wish to request information from the country on the basis for the 2014 quota levels and the basis of non-detriment findings - in addition to further assessment of selected species, as suggested. Similarly, a number of new quotas were published for Chamaeleonidae by Madagascar in addition to those based on recommendations of the Animals/Plants/Standing Committee, and the SRG may wish to request further information on the quota setting and the basis of non-detriment findings. Table 1: New or increased quotas in 2014 that may require further review. Quota Country Species (IUCN Red List) 2014 Notes change quota New Madagascar Brookesia betschi (NT) 300 live Brookesia ebenaui (VU) 150 live Brookesia griveaudi (NT) 150 live Brookesia minima (VU) 150 live Brookesia nasus (VU) 150 live Brookesia peyrierasi (VU) 150 live Malaysia Aquilaria spp. 200 000 kg Two species are native to Malaysia: (Peninsular wood chips, A. malaccensis and A. rostrata. Previous Malaysia wood blocks quotas published for A. malaccensis only; and Sabah) quota at genus level includes A. rostrata, a Critically Endangered species. Increase Guyana Amazona festiva (VU) 888 live 71% increase from 2013 quota levels. Amazona dufresniana dufresniana 775 live 49% increase from 2013 quota levels. (NT) Caiman crocodilus crocodilus (LC) 16015 live; 60% and 93% increase from 2013 quota 38500 skins levels, respectively. Corallus hortulanus (not assessed) 4570 live 52% increase from 2013 quota levels. Madagascar Calumma parsonii (NT) 300 Increase from a zero quota in 2013. No opinion i) formed 07/02/2011. Brookesia therezieni (LC) 500 live 400% increase from 2013 quota levels . Aloe capitata (not assessed) 1483 live Increase from a zero quota in 2013. Quota Country Species (IUCN Red List) 2014 Notes 5 change quota Aloe deltoideodonta (not assessed) 3708 live Increase from a zero quota in 2013. Aloe guillaumetii (not assessed) 250 live Increase from a zero quota in 2013. Aloe imalotensis (not assessed) 178 live Increase from a zero quota in 2013. Ravenea rivularis (EN) 4500 kg Increase from a zero quota in 2013. seeds Positive opinion formed 29/02/2008. Reviewed under the CITES Review of Significant Trade at PC19. 6 Introduction This report analyses the 2014 CITES export quotas to identify any changes that may warrant a review of how these changes might affect the conservation status of the species concerned. National export quotas for CITES listed taxa are an important tool to manage and monitor wildlife trade. The establishment or revision of an export quota should be based on a non-detriment (NDF) finding by the Scientific Authority of the exporting country and the NDF should be reviewed annually (Resolution Conf. 14.7 (Rev. CoP15)). Once such annual quotas are established, the need for a NDF for each individual shipment of the species concerned is eliminated. The EU, through stricter measures outlined in the Wildlife Trade Regulations, requires an NDF by importing Member States and therefore monitors newly established quotas and changes to previous quota levels to assess the situation where necessary, or to reassess SRG opinions or EU decisions. Similarly, by assessing the new quotas early each year, the SRG can advise on the treatment of anticipated import applications within the EU. Export quotas are usually established by each Party to CITES unilaterally on a voluntary basis, but they can also be set by the Conference of the Parties, or result from recommendations of the Animals and Plants Committees. To ensure that national quotas are effectively communicated and implemented on permits and certificates, countries should inform the CITES Secretariat when they establish national export quotas for CITES species (Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP16)). In turn, the Secretariat informs the Parties by publishing a list of national export quotas of which it has been informed (www.cites.org/eng/resources/quotas/index.php ). Quotas generally relate to a calendar year (1 st of January to 31 st of December); however, since 2008 sturgeon quotas have related to a ‘quota year’ (1 st March to last day of February). For species of Acipenseriformes, quotas should be established and communicated to the CITES Secretariat for meat and caviar from stocks shared between different Range States (Resolution Conf. 12.7 (Rev. CoP16)). Guidance on the ‘Management of nationally established export quotas’ is available through Resolution Conf. 14.7 (Rev. CoP15). In 2014, quotas for non-Acipenseriformes were first published on the CITES website on 14/03/2014 and updates were published on 26/03/2014 and 14/04/2014. No countries have communicated quotas for wild-sourced Acipenseriformes for the period 1 st March 2014 – 28 th February 2015 at the time of writing (28th April 2014). Therefore, as per the recommendations detailed in Resolution Conf. 12.7 (Rev. CoP16), if no quotas have been communicated to the CITES Secretariat by 31 st December of the previous year, “the relevant range States have a zero quota until such time as they communicate their quotas in writing to the Secretariat and the Secretariat in turn informs the Parties.” This report analyses the 2014 CITES export quotas to identify changes in quotas between 2013 and 2014 and to bring to the attention of the SRG any cases where further review may be warranted to assess how these changes might affect the conservation status of the species, or its area of distribution. The report outlines: a) Quotas that were newly established in 2014 (i.e. 2014 quotas for particular species/country/term/source combinations which have not previously been subject to a quota, or have not been subject to a quota for at least the last 5 years); b) Quotas that increased in 2014 compared with 2013 quotas (or compared with 2012 quotas if no quota was published in 2013). 7 c) Quotas that decreased in 2014 compared with 2013 quotas (or compared with 2012 quotas if no quota was published in 2013). To identify quotas that may require further in-depth review, criteria such as the level