CITES CoP16 Digest - Species Survival Network

DOCUMENT BACKGROUND / CURRENT STATUS EFFECT OF DOCUMENT SSN VIEW
Continued
• identification of inconsistently implemented
Resolutions;
• identification of Resolutions to be repealed; and
• assessment of whether processes are needed to
reduce stricter domestic measures and reservations.
Such an assessment would interfere with sovereign
rights of the Parties.
19. CITES and livelihoods
Cop16 Doc. 19
• RC 8.3 (Rev. CoP13) “Recognizes that implementation
of CITES-listing decisions should take into account
potential impacts on the livelihoods of the poor.”
• Decision 15.5 directs the SC WG on Livelihoods to,
inter alia:
• revise the draft Resolution contained in Annex 1 to
CoP15 Doc. 14;
• finalize the toolkit for rapid assessment at the
national level of positive and negative impacts
of implementing CITES listing decisions on livelihoods
of the poor;
• finalize voluntary guidelines for Parties to address
negative impacts; and
• prepare a final version of tools and guidelines for
review and endorsement by SC62.
• Decision 15.6 directs SC to report to CoP16 on implementation
of Decision 15.5.
• Prepared by the Chair of SC WG on Livelihoods.
• Provides a draft Resolution (Annex 1) for adoption
which, inter alia:
• encourages Parties to work with key stakeholder
groups to design, implement and monitor effective
strategies for implementation of CITES;
• agrees that empowerment of poor rural communities
should be encouraged through measures
including promoting transparency in
policies regarding poverty and natural resource
use, developing harvesters’ associations, and
recognizing resource tenure and cultural and
intellectual property rights for indigenous, tribal
and poor rural communities; and
• agrees that support for implementation of CITES
listings should be enhanced by public awareness
and education, including education of poor rural
communities.
• Provides draft Decisions (Annex 2) for adoption
which, inter alia:
• encourage exporting and importing Parties to
carry out voluntary rapid assessments of the
impact of implementation of listing decisions on
livelihoods of poor rural communities, and to mitigate
any identified negative impacts through use
of voluntary guidelines;
• direct SC66 to review implementation of the
Resolution and SC WG on Livelihoods to continue
to monitor progress in addressing livelihoods
issues; and
• direct Secretariat to develop case studies on
application of the toolkit and guidelines and cre-
OPPOSE
• SSN urges Parties to oppose adoption of any Resolution
or Decision based on this document until the toolkit
and guidelines are in final form, available in full and in
all working languages of the Convention for consideration,
and have been approved by the SC. In particular,
no decisions should be made with respect to the “Nazca
Guidelines” (Annex 4) as their status has not been made
clear in the document.
Draft Resolution
• SC has not approved the draft Resolution and in fact it
contains alternate language and strikeout text added subsequent
to SC62.
• SSN urges Parties to oppose adoption of alternate text
in the Draft proposing that Parties explore using the
“emblem” of CITES to “certify the products are obtained
legally and sustainably”. CITES has neither the means nor
ability to verify that each CITES permit issued satisfies the
requirements of the Convention, including those relevant
to non-detriment findings.
• The draft Resolution addresses domestic matters well
beyond the remit of CITES (such as development of harvesters’
associations and issues of tenure); such issues
could be contained in guidelines or a toolkit but should
not be contained in a Resolution.
www.ssn.org
Continued
Draft Decisions
• SSN urges Parties to oppose the following actions contained
in the proposed Decisions:
• directing Secretariat to develop case studies, as this is
Continued
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