The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) is participating in the 65th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which ran from July 7, 2014 to July 11, 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland. The delegation from the UAE was headed by Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Executive Director, Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity, Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi and Ahmed Al Hashimi, Director of Biodiversity, MoEW.
The country’s participation falls in line with the UAE’s efforts to reduce the proliferation of wildlife crimes, particularly through the implementation of standards and requirements introduced by CITES. Regular Standing Committee meetings focus on the discussion of technical topics that remain relevant to the implementation of resolutions resulting from the convention. All discussed recommendations for this meeting will be submitted at the coming 17th Conference of the Parties, which will be held in 2016 in South Africa.
The meeting covered the review of CITES’ wild fauna and flora strategy. Also presented were reports coming from regional and international organizations like the Convention Corporation, Migratory Species, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Union Against Crime (IUAC) and The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). Pertaining dissensions were also tackled and discussed with regards to the accumulation of confiscated specimens, sea shipments, electronic permits, animal transport and the review and discussion of reports on cheetah and ivory smuggling.
During the meeting, the UAE delegation presented a report that detailed its efforts to curb the proliferation of the illicit ivory trade. The report covered the country’s various initiatives to combat ivory smuggling, which includes collaborative efforts with various government agencies, the organization of a series of national capacity building workshops and the launch of awareness campaigns targeting different segments of society.
The report prepared by the UAE is based on the country’s keenness in implementing and complying with set international standards and requirements of endangered species of wild fauna and flora. The trade of endangered species, which is considered the third largest illegal trade following drugs and arms, has resulted in endangering many wildlife species--making it crucially important to regulate the trade otherwise many species will be extinct.
In order to protect wildlife from extinction, the UAE joined the convention by Federal Decree no. 86-1989, which was followed by the signing of the agreement in 1990, and the issuance of Federal Law No. 11- 2002, covering the organization and control of international trade on endangered fauna and flora. This regulation covers the issuance of import and export permits for species under the CITES convention in addition to tightening control on its transit activity.
The UAE has also participated in the London Conference of The Illegal Wild Life Trade which was held in February 2014. The conference saw the participation of 45 countries and focused on a public declaration citing international commitments and measures to eradicate the illegal wildlife trade. In addition the UAE has also participated in United Nations Environmental Assembly Ministerial Dialogue on Illegal Trade in Wildlife held in Nairobi - Republic of Kenya, which stressed on the importance of international corporation to stop the illegal wildlife trade.
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