Guidance on NDFs from the Conference of the Parties (CoP)

To assess the implementation of the Convention and make recommendations to improve its effectiveness, as well as amend the Appendices, the Parties meet every two or three years at the meetings of the Conference of Parties (CoP). Prior to CoP, Parties may submit proposals for resolutions and amendments to the Appendices. Many Resolutions and Decisions related to non-detriment findings have been made through this process.

Rollover each box to see some of the relevant Resolutions taken during the CoP:

<strong>Eighth Meeting of the CoP</strong><br/> In 1992, the CoP adopted Resolution Conf. 8.6 on the Role of the Scientific Authority. This Resolution recommended that the findings and advice of the Scientific Authority of the country of export be based on the following elements relating to the species concerned: population status; distribution; population trend; harvest; other biological and ecological factors; and trade information. <strong>Tenth Meeting of the CoP</strong><br/> At CoP10 (Harare, 1997), Resolution Conf. 8.6 (Rev.) was replaced by Resolution Conf. 10.3 on Designation and role of the Scientific Authorities. The directive to prepare general guidelines for conducting appropriate scientific reviews by Scientific Authorities was replaced by an encouragement to the Parties, the Secretariat and NGOs to develop and support workshops and seminars designed to improve the implementation of CITES by Scientific Authorities. These workshops resulted in a report: CITES Scientific Authorities\uFFFD Checklist to assist in making Non-detriment Findings for Appendix II Exports. <strong>Thirteenth Meeting of the CoP</strong><br/> At its thirteenth meeting, the CoP adopted Resolution Conf. 13.2 on Sustainable use of biodiversity: Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines, where Parties were urged, when implementing non-detriment-making processes and making CITES NDFs, to make use of the Principles and Guidelines for the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2004). <strong>Fourteenth Meeting of the CoP</strong><br/> In the CITES Strategic Vision: 2008-2013 adopted at CoP14 in Resolution Conf. 14.2, the Parties set an objective that the best available scientific information should be the basis for non-detriment findings. Mandated by the CoP, the Standing Committee at its 57th meeting went on to agree indicators for this objective. Also, In Resolution Conf. 14.7 on Management of nationally established quotas, the Parties recognized the linkage between export quotas and NDFs and adopted guidelines to manage these quotas. In particular, they agreed that an export quota system is a management tool, used to ensure that exports of specimens of a certain species are maintained at a level that has no detrimental effect on the population of the species. <strong>Fifteenth Meeting of the CoP</strong><br/> The Conference of the Parties adopted five Decisions related to non-detriment findings (Decisions 15.23-15.27). These decisions, inter alia, encourage Parties to consider the outputs of the International Expert Workshop on Non-Detriment Findings (Cancun, November 2008), to prioritize activities such as workshops, and to report their findings at the meetings of the Animals Committee and Plants Committee before CoP16. The Animals and Plants Committees are tasked to advise on how best to assist Scientific Authorities in the making of non-detriment findings and prepare a discussion paper for consideration at CoP16, possibly including a draft resolution on the establishment of non legally binding guidelines for the making of non-detriment findings. COPDates

NDF
International Expert Workshop on CITES Non-Detriment Findings
Cancun, Mexico, November 17th to 22nd, 2008

On the initiative of Mexico, through document CoP14 Doc. 35 presented at CoP14, the Parties decided to call for an international expert workshop on NDFs to enhance CITES Scientific Authorities' capacities, particularly those related to the methodologies, tools, information, expertise and other resources needed to formulate NDFs.

The resulting International Expert Workshop on CITES Non-Detriment Findings was held in Cancun, Mexico from 17 to 22 November 2008. It was attended by 103 participants from 33 countries of the six CITES regions. Click here for the proceedings of the workshop. Additional informatin can be found on the workshop website.

Modifié le: mercredi 24 septembre 2014, 19:38