CITES CoP14

The Hague, The Netherlands, 3-15 June 2007

For 3 decades, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as CITES, has been the largest and by some accounts, the most effective international wildlife conservation agreement in the world.

Every 3 years, Parties to CITES (Government representatives from participating countries) meet to discuss a variety of issues. This meeting is called a meeting of the Conference of the Parties – these are known as CoPs.

CoP 14 (the 14th meeting of countries involved with CITES) took place in The Hague, June 2007.

Many of the wildlife trade proposals as well as agenda items and other documents that will be discussed at CITES CoP14 directly concern WWF's priority species. Particular species of importance to WWF at the meeting include:

• African elephant
• Spiny dogfish and porbeagle shark
• Sawfish
• European eel
• Red and pink coral
• Dalbergia and Cedrela species
• Tigers and other Asian big cats
• Rhinoceros
• Great apes
• Cetaceans

For snapshot shot summaries of WWF's position on key proposals and agenda items, follow the links to the left. WWF's full positions in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic are available for download to the right.

Implementation and enforcement issues
While species 'listing' issues often receive the most attention, the CITES meeting is an opportunity to look at key implementation and enforcement issues that are vital ito deliver real and long lasting conservation outcomes. 

Bold, positive action needed to save tigers from extinction in the wild
WWF will particularly draw attention to the serious crisis facing tigers in the wild as part of implementation and enforcement discussions pertaining to tigers and other Asian big cats.

Many range States have implemented concerted actions to stop the trade in tiger parts and products - through legislation, enforcement, anti-poaching work, habitat protection, and consumer awareness. Much more is still needed to protect tiger habitat - including legal protection, management of protected areas, and prevention of habitat conversion in critical tiger landscapes. But all of that will be irrelevant unless the trade is brought firmly under control, demand in consumer countries is stopped, and all trade is halted.

Political will needed to close down domestic ivory markets
WWF will also call attention to domestic ivory markets. Extensive research and analysis of illegal ivory trade (through the CITES Elephant Trade Information System, ETIS) clearly demonstrates that unregulated and illegal ivory markets at the national level are the major factors driving the ongoing illegal international trade in ivory.

WWF urges the CITES Parties to commit to concrete action and put political will behind serious efforts to close down these domestic ivory markets, the true driver of elephant poaching.