Latest News
CoP16 is ending soon on March 14 and you can stay up to date on the progress made thus far. To read the Service's press release about increased protections for sharks and manta rays, click here. To read our press release on the many species of freshwater turtles now protected under CITES, click here. Unfortunately, the U.S. proposal to increase protections for polar bears was defeated, failing to receive a majority vote. You can read the Service's press release on the polar bear proposal here. And to stay up to date on the happenings of CoP16, be sure to visit our CoP16 page!
The Service published a Federal Register Notice today announcing the availability of tentative U.S. negotiating positions on species proposals, draft resolutions and decisions, and agenda items submitted by other countries and the CITES Secretariat for consideration at the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of Parties (CoP16) to CITES. Click here to read the notice. Also, be sure to visit International Affairs’ CoP16 website to learn more about U.S. proposals and check out the media page to stay up to date on the progress made at CoP16, beginning March 3rd.
In celebration of the 40th Anniverary of CITES and the upcoming Sixteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP16), FWS News, the quarterly newsletter of the Service, has released a special section in their recent issue highlighting the importance of CITES and its rich history. To read the stories, visit our Articles page. Also be sure to visit our CoP16 page to learn about what the U.S. is doing in preparation for CoP16.
Wildlife Without Border's African Elephant Conservation Fund supported a recent report from the Elephant Trade Information System managed by TRAFFIC on behalf of the CITES member States. The report has revealed that illegal trade in ivory is at its highest levels in nearly two decades, and 2011 witnessed a major surge in poaching. The findings are based largely on ivory seizure information submitted by governments and will be presented and discussed at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP16): http://bit.ly/UHIdsS
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has released new data on the rhino poaching crisis in Africa demonstrating a 43% increase in poaching between 2011 and 2012, according to IUCN’s Species Survival Commission’s (SSC) African Rhino Specialist Group. Click here for full article
Manufacturers and sellers of musical instruments have recently encountered problems in exporting musical instruments containing Brazilian rosewood to the European Union. A brief discussion on Brazilian rosewood and what is allowed under EU regulations, can be read here. Please also visit our Permits page for more information wood and other tree products.
