USFWS seeking input on CITES topics and positions

[Laura Bies]

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has published a Federal Register notice informing the public about proposed amendments to the CITES Appendices and proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the United States might submit for consideration at the 19th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19). The nineteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) is tentatively scheduled to be held in Costa Rica, March 3-14, 2022. Public comments will be accepted until May 3, 2021. Click here to read the Federal Register notice and learn how to submit comments.

Background: Currently there are 183 Parties to CITES (182 countries, including the United States, and one regional economic integration organization, the European Union). The Convention calls for regular meetings of the Conference of the Parties, and the Conference of the Parties has decided that these meetings should be held every 2-3 years. At the meetings, the Parties review the implementation of CITES, make decisions regarding the financing and function of the CITES Secretariat in Switzerland to enable it to carry out its functions, consider amendments to Appendices I and II, consider reports presented by the Secretariat, and adopt recommendations for the improved effectiveness of CITES. Any Party to CITES may propose amendments to Appendices I and II, resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for consideration by all the Parties at the meeting.

About the Ornithological Council

The Ornithological Council is a consortium of 10 scientific societies of ornithologists; these societies span the Western Hemisphere and the research conducted by their members spans the globe. Their cumulative expertise comprises the knowledge that is fundamental and essential to science-based bird conservation and management. The Ornithological Council is financially supported by our 10 member societies and the individual ornithologists who value our work. If the OC’s resources are valuable to you, please consider joining one of our member societies or donating directly at Birdnet.org. Thank you for your support!