U.S. Extends List for Global Protection
11/19/99
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Title: Sharks, Snakes and Spiders Qualify for Global Protection,
U.S.Says
Source: Environment News Service (ENS)
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: November 19, 1999
Byline: Cat Lazaroff
Some of the most feared creatures on Earth - sharks, rattlesnakes and
poisonous tarantula spiders - are so close to extinction they are now
in need of protection themselves.
The timber rattlesnake, found only in the U.S., is among the species
that the U.S. is proposing for CITES listing.
The great white shark and the whale shark, the American timber
rattlesnake and the 11 known species of Eastern Hemisphere tarantulas
are among the species United States wildlife officials have
identified as in need of the protection a ban on international trade
in them and their parts would allow.
Today the U.S. unveiled its final list of topics and proposals for
next year's meeting over the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The list includes
both proposed additions to and subtractions from the list of globally
protected species, and a number of "talking papers" intended to spark
discussion of topics with U.S. interest.
CITES is an international agreement designed to control and regulate
global trade in certain wild animals and plants that are or may
become threatened with extinction due to commercial trade. Currently,
146 nations including the U.S. belong to CITES. Members meet every
two years to discuss improvements to the treaty and to review trade
protections for wildlife.
The proposals and papers submitted by the U.S. will be considered
during the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to CITES in
Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2000.
"As we prepared the U.S. submissions, the Service worked closely with
state wildlife agencies," said Donald Barry of the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS), head of the U.S. CITES delegation. "More
than ever before, they have been our partners in gathering the best
scientific, trade and harvest information available on various
species, especially native wildlife species."
The U.S. is proposing to add a number of species to the CITES lists
of protected species. Some of these, including the timber rattlesnake
and spotted turtle, are species found only in the U.S. Others, such
as the great white shark and whale shark, are found in waters
worldwide. The U.S. is also sponsoring or cosponsoring the
listing of non-U.S. species, including the 15 or so Mantella frog
species of Madagascar, the nine species of Southeast Asian box
turtles, and the 11 known species of Eastern Hemisphere tarantulas.
Notably absent from this list is the big-leaf mahogany, a valuable
tree species which several forest conservation groups urged the U.S.
to propose for listing earlier this month. The Natural Resources
Defense Council and Defenders of Wildlife have pushed for listing of
the tree species at a number of recent CITES meetings.
The U.S. is proposing removing the Sonoran green toad from the CITES
list, saying its population is stable and much of its habitat is
protected.
Some species that currently hold CITES listings are now believed to
be recovered. The U.S. is proposing that they be removed from listing
or downlisted to a lesser level of protection. These include the
Sonoran green toad, native to Arizona and Sonora, Mexico; North
American populations of the gyrfalcon, a bird of prey; and the white
wicky, a plant related to mountain laurel and native to the coastal
areas of North and South Carolina.
Other species seem to be doing worse, and the U.S. is asking for
stricter protections for these, including the Holywood lignum-vitae,
a valuable timber species; the pancake tortoise, native to Kenya and
Tanzania; and three species of Asian pangolins, which resemble
anteaters.
Also on the list of species struggling to survive that would benefit
from a ban on trade is the Black Sea/Sea of Azov population of the
bottlenose dolphin, whose habitat and food supply is jeopardized.
All musk deer species deserve greater protection, U.S. officials
say., These deer are hunted for the Asian traditional medicine trade
and for perfumes and cosmetics.
The CITES treaty offers three different levels of protection for
species listed under any of three appendices to the Convention. Any
listing of a species in either Appendix I or II requires approval by
two-thirds of the CITES party countries, but any Convention member
may place a native species on Appendix III.
Appendix I includes species to which any commercial trade would be
detrimental. All commercial trade is banned for these species, but
noncommercial trade is allowed if it does not jeopardize the species'
survival in the wild. Permits are required for the exportation and
importation of Appendix I species.
The U.S. wants the Black Sea/Sea of Azov population of the bottlenose
dolphin upgraded from Appendix II to Appendix I.
Appendix II includes species for which uncontrolled commercial trade
would be detrimental. Trade in these species is strictly regulated
through the use of export permits. Appendix III includes species
where there is some question as to the potential negative impact of
commercial trade. Permits are used to monitor trade in these species.
The U.S. is submitting some proposals alone, and is also co-
sponsoring several with other countries. For example, the U.S. is
joining with Australia, Bulgaria, Kenya, Georgia, India, Nepal and
Madagascar to propose or discuss protection for species such as
sharks, tortoises, dolphins, tarantulas and Musk deer.
"Because Americans purchase great quantities of foreign wildlife and
wildlife products, it is our responsibility to work with other
countries to make sure that this trade in no way jeopardizes the
future health of their native wildlife," Barry said.
A number of conservation groups have called on the U.S. to propose
additional protections for marine mammals and commercial fish
species, and the U.S. does have a marine focus going into the 2000
meeting. Besides proposing two specific shark species, both of which
are threatened by overfishing for the Asian medicinal and food
markets, the U.S. is asking CITES to work with the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization in the conservation of sea birds,
sharks and global fisheries and in reviewing the CITES criteria for
listing marine species.
To strengthen the global conservation and management of whales, the
U.S. is submitting a discussion paper which calls for continued
cooperation between the CITES parties and the International Whaling
Commission (IWC). The IWC is responsible for the conservation and
management of whales; CITES regulates whales and whale products in
international trade. Although some countries maintain that stocks are
sufficient to sustain commercial trade, the U.S. contends that the
health of the world's whale population is precarious and continued
cooperation between CITES and the IWC is necessary.
The U.S. is proposing that all seahorse species receive protection
under a special CITES Appendix.
The U.S. and Australia are seeking a discussion on the conservation
of, and trade in the more than 200 types of seahorses and related
species. Seahorse populations are believed to have declined
worldwide, but more complete information is needed about their status
before moving forward with a proposal to add seahorses to a specific
appendix.
"For centuries we have been intrigued by these graceful sea
creatures," USFWS director Jamie Rappaport Clark said.
"Unfortunately, our fascination may well be threatening their very
survival."
The biennial meetings of the Conference of the Parties are open to
registered nongovernmental organizations, and conference rules allow
representatives to observe many sessions, hand out information and
speak on issues of concern. To address criticisms by some
environmental groups and other special interest groups that they have
not had enough say at previous CITES meetings, the U.S. is asking
CITES members to discuss ways to ensure continued accessibility for
these groups.
The preliminary agenda for COP11 is expected to be published in mid-
December, along with the final U.S. submissions for COP11. The U.S.
proposed negotiating positions on other countries' COP11 submissions
is expected to be published in early February 2000. At the same time,
the USFWS will announce a public meeting to be held later that month
to discuss these submissions. On April 1, the USFWS will publish the
final U.S. negotiating positions on other countries' submissions.