| Official CITES Meetings |
Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) work together to regulate the import, export, re-export, and introduction from the sea of certain animal and plant species. Parties communicate regularly at international meetings that are convened to execute the treaty. Conference of the Parties The Conference of the Parties (CoP) has participants from all CITES Parties as well as non-governmental organizations [http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/ob.pdf]. At CoPs, the CITES Appendices are formally amended and Parties make decisions on administrative and implementation issues regarding the treaty. Until CoP13, these meeting were held every two years; since then, CoPs are held every three years. CoP15 is tentatively scheduled take place in Early 2010 in Qatar. See the results of the most recent CoP. Animals Committee Plants Committee Standing Committee The Standing Committee (SC) provides policy guidance to the Secretariat in implementing CITES. Standing Committee membership is comprised of Parties representing each of the six major geographical regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Central and South America and the Caribbean, and Oceania.This Committee meets on an “as needed” basis, usually twice a year. See the results of the most recent SC. The CITES Secretariat, located in Geneva Switzerland, is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). |
