Download United States` CoP16 Proposals - Organization of American States

United States’
CoP16 Proposals
Dr. Rosemarie Gnam
U.S. Scientific Authority
Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative
Steering Committee Meeting
U.S. CoP16 Proposals
• Animals
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Polar Bear
Asian Soft-shell Turtles
Asian Hard-shell Turtles
Roti-Island Snake-necked Turtle
Burmese Star Tortoise
Big-headed Turtle
Diamondback Terrapin
Blanding’s Turtle
Spotted Turtle
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
• Plants
o Ginseng Annotation
o Laguna Beach Live-forever and Santa Barbara Island Live-forever
Polar Bear
• Transfer to CITES Appendix I
• Qualifies under Annex 1, paragraph
C) ii) of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP15):
o Subject to projected/inferred decrease in area of habitat (sea ice) and quality of
habitat by mid-century
• Affected by trade:
o About 800 polar bears harvested annually
o About 400–500 polar bears exported/re-exported annually
• Need to apply a precautionary approach
Polar Bear
• Declined during 1960s–1970s. Total population size at
that time unknown.
• Current population estimate of 20,000-25,000.
• Estimate uncertain due to lack of new information and
has remained unchanged since 1993.
• Projected decline of the global polar bear population by
two-thirds (66%) by 2050 (w/in 38 years)
due to climate change.
• IUCN: >30% loss over three generations
(45 years).
Polar Bear
Precautionary Approach − including Polar Bear in Appendix
I is:
• Necessary: to ensure that primarily commercial trade does not
compound the threat posed to the species by the loss of habitat.
• Warranted:
o Scientific uncertainty in total population size and current trends of
several subpopulations;
o Reduction in summer sea ice extent;
o Inherent vulnerability of the species due
to its
low reproductive rate; and
o Influence that commercialization of an
increasingly rare
species can have.
Polar Bear
Benefits of Appendix I-listing and other considerations:
• Fewer polar bears would be subjected to international
trade.
• Polar bear populations could be more resilient and less
vulnerable to other threats.
• Subsistence uses would continue; personal sporthunted trophies allowed.
Turtle Proposals
• The world’s most endangered vertebrates, with almost
half categorized on the IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species as critically endangered, endangered, or
vulnerable.
• High risk of extinction because of their life history
strategy, including adult longevity, late maturity, limited
annual reproductive output, and high juvenile/egg
mortality.
• Harvest as well as habitat degradation and loss are their
greatest threats.
Turtle Proposals
Credit Ron Brooks Co-Chair of OMSTARRT (Ontario Multi-Species of Turtles At Risk Recovery Team)
Turtle Proposals
• Turtle life history traits leads to a high probability that at
some time during their long lifespan, some hatchlings will
survive to maturity.
• Keys to the success of this reproductive strategy include
adults attaining sexual maturity and a large number of
eggs being produced.
• Removal of adults and eggs makes turtles particularly
vulnerable to overexploitation by humans and can result
in population collapse.
Turtle Proposals
• Trade in turtle species has followed a boom and bust pattern in
which exploitation and trade shift from one species to another when
a species becomes:
1) so depleted that it is no longer commercially exploitable; or
2) the subject of stricter regulation, so that trade shifts to less regulated species.
U.S.
Snapping
Turtles
SE Asian
Species
Effects of CITES
Actions: Exports
by Specimen
U.S. Softshells
IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group; CITES CoP15
Turtle Proposals
• Follows outcomes of 2 recent specialist regional workshops
in Singapore and the USA for the Asian and North
American species, respectively.
• The proposals continue efforts of the Phnom Penh and
Kunming workshops on Asian tortoises and freshwater
turtles that began in previous AC, SC, & CoPs, including
Res. Conf. 11.9 (Rev. CoP13).
Asian Soft-shell Turtles
-selected species in the Family Trionychidae• Include the following species in Appendix II:
o Aspideretes leithii, Dogania subplana, Nilssonia formosa, Palea steindachneri, Pelodiscus
axenaria, P. maackii, P. parviformis, and Rafetus swinhoei
o Qualify under Annex 2a, paragraph B of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev CoP15):
• Trade appears to be shifting to these species
• Life history traits make them vulnerable to overexploitation
• Boom and bust turtle trade increases their vulnerability
• Transfer Chitra chitra* and Chitra vandijki+ to Appendix I:
o Qualify under Annex 1, paragraphs A,+ B,* and C*+ of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev CoP15):
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Restricted distribution
Marked wild population decline
IUCN Critically Endangered or draft Critically Endangered status
Targeted wild harvest (adults and eggs for food pet trade); incidental take (by-catch)
Predictable nesting habits; accessible nests (river banks)
Habitat alteration to build water reservoirs has inundated nests, decreased suitable nesting sites,
and increased water turbidity hindering prey capture (sit & wait predators)
Asian Hard-shell Turtles
-selected taxa of the Family Geoemydidae
• Include the following in Appendix II:
o Cyclemys spp., Geoemyda japonica, G. spengleri, Hardella thurjii, Mauremys japonica,
M. nigricans, Melanochelys trijuga, Morenia petersi, Sacalia bealei, S. quadriocellata,
and Vijayachelys silvatica.
o Qualifies under Annex 2a, paragraph B of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev CoP15)
• Trade appears to be shifting to these species
• Life history traits make them vulnerable to overexploitation
• Boom and bust turtle trade increases their vulnerability
• Establish a zero quota on wild specimens for
commercial purposes for the following Appendix II taxa:
o Batagur borneoensis, B. trivittata, Cuora aurocapitata, C. flavomarginata, C.
galbinifrons, C. mccordi, C. mouhotii, C. pani, C. trifasciata, C. yunnanensis, C. zhoui,
Heosemys annandalii, H. depressa, Mauremys annamensis, and Orlitia borneensis.
• Most are critically endangered ; some are few in the wild
• Zero quota will better protect wild populations
Asian Turtles
Benefits of CITES action and other considerations:
• Overarching conservation protection from the boom and
bust nature of the turtle trade.
• Maintenance of local turtle populations for the benefit of
local people.
• Family level listings facilitate enforcement (generic
similarities).
• Represents and strengthens cooperative
range/consumer country relationships.
Roti-Island Snake- necked Turtle
• Transfer to Appendix I
• Qualifies under Annex 1, paragraphs
A i), ii), v); B) iii), iv); and C) i) of Res. Conf.
9.24 (Rev CoP15):
o Highly localized range; known from a limited number of shallow wetlands in Roti
Island, Indonesia, and in Timor-Leste
o Wild population and subpopulations are small, possibly extinct
o Extremely restricted distribution and small population size contribute to high
vulnerability to over-collection
o International pet trade is considered the primary threat to this species and
populations have diminished significantly due to wild collection
Roti-Island Snake-necked Turtle
Benefits of CITES action and other considerations:
• Unless this species is properly managed and protected
from the illegal trade, it faces likely extinction in the wild.
• Illegal exports from range countries are apparently
occurring.
• Reptile exporters in Jakarta report the majority of the
ongoing demand for specimens comes from hobbyists in
western European countries, the USA and Japan.
Burmese Star Tortoise
• Transfer to Appendix I
• Qualifies under Annex 1, paragraphs
A i),ii),v); B i), iii), iv); and C i) of Res. Conf. 9.24
(Rev CoP15):
o Extremely restricted area of distribution and occurring at few locations
o Most recent surveys (2006) indicate extremely small wild population and
subpopulations, and possibly ecologically extinct in some locations
o Extremely restricted distribution and small population size contribute to
high vulnerability to over-collection
o Prized for the international food market and pet trade since mid-1990s
o Currently close to extirpation in the wild
Burmese Star Tortoise
Benefits of CITES action and other considerations:
• The species is nearing ecological extinction and wild
populations cannot sustain commercial trade.
• Prized for its rarity and beauty, the commercial market is
fueled by ongoing demand from the high-end pet trade,
selling for about US$1,500/€1,200.
Big-headed Turtle
• Transfer to Appendix I
• Qualifies under Annex 1,
paragraphs B i), iii), iv); and C i), ii), of
Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev CoP15):
o Habitat specialists found in un-polluted mountain (i.e. at high altitudes) streams
within closed-canopy forested areas
o Does not breed readily in captivity
o Previously common in Chinese food markets, but now only low numbers of
individuals are found in markets, indicating that wild populations have declined
dramatically
o Shift in trade (new market) – hatchlings are now commanding higher prices
than adults due to their bright vivid colors - further removing reproductive
potential for the species
Big-headed Turtle
Benefits of CITES action and other considerations:
• Increased protection from the boom and bust nature of
the turtle trade, especially given expanding nature of
trade to hatchlings as well as adults.
• Better maintenance of local turtle populations for the
benefit of local people.
Diamondback Terrapin
• Include in Appendix II
• Qualifies under Annex 2a, paragraphs A and B of Res.
Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP15):
o History of domestic use ended with Great Depression; however the
species is now collected for use primarily as pets, being exported
primarily to Asia
o Incidental take as by-catch (drowning in crab pots)
o Loss of salt marsh habitat due to coastal development
o There has never been successful farming of this species
Blanding’s Turtle
• Inclusion in Appendix II.
• Qualifies under criteria A and B in Annex 2a of
Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP15):
o Wild collection, primarily for pet trade
o “Poster child” for vulnerability to exploitation (studies on Blanding’s led
to identification of life history traits that emphasize turtles vulnerability)
o High mobility and extensive seasonal movements between wetlands
increase male and female susceptibility to the impacts of road mortality - and facilitate collectors’ ability to harvest the animals for trade
o International demand for this species continues to rise
Blanding’s Turtle
• 2011 data show highest export ever – primarily to Hong Kong
Spotted Turtle
• Include in Appendix II
• Qualifies under Annex 2a, paragraphs
A and B in of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP15):
o Wild collection for pet trade
o Turtle life history traits that make them vulnerable to overexploitation
o Vulnerable to mortality on roads and from agricultural machinery, habitat
degradation, predation, and habitat invasion by non-native plant species
U.S. Native Turtles
Benefits of CITES action and other considerations:
• Regulation of international trade would ensure that
exports are not detrimental and would assist range
countries in stemming illegal trade.
• Inclusion in Appendix II will provide national-level support
for individual state efforts to manage and conserve the
species.
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
• Include in Appendix II
• Qualifies under Annex 2a,
paragraph A of Res.
Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP15):
o Intrinsic threat: Low-productivity species
o Greatest threats: International fin trade and bycatch mortality (i.e.,
tuna/swordfish fisheries)
o CoP15 FAO Expert Panel : Species met criteria for Appendix II
o Once among the more abundant pelagic sharks, has undergone marked
decline of 50-90%, and inferred declines based on CPUE, where data are
deficient
o Preferred species in high value fin market: US$45 to US$85 per kg
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
Benefits of CITES action and other considerations:
o Ensure that trade is monitored globally.
o Will help stop the significant and continuing declines
driven by the international fin trade.
o CITES-listing will complement countries’ efforts to
enforce RFMO rules.
Ginseng Annotation
• Amend annotation #3:
Designates whole and sliced roots and parts of roots, excluding manufactured parts
or derivatives such as powders, pills, extracts, tonics, teas and confectionery.
• Annotation was last amended at CoP14 making it less
clear whether the CITES listing covered manufactured
products of ginseng roots
• Proposal reverts back to Pre-CoP14 text and does not
change the scope of the listing
Laguna Beach Live-forever &
Santa Barbara Island Live-forever
• Delete species from Appendix II
• Both included in Appendix I in 1983
• PC9 (1999) Periodic Review of the Appendices by the
CITES recommended transfer to Appendix II
• Species transferred to Appendix II at CoP11 (2000) and
CoP12 (2002), respectively
Laguna Beach Live-forever &
Santa Barbara Island Live-forever
• In accordance with precautionary measures in Annex
4 of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP15), a species
downlisted to Appendix II should be monitored for at
least two intervals between CoPs:
o Monitoring since CoP11 and CoP12, respectively, indicate that trade is no
longer a threat
o No CITES-recorded trade in over 25 years
o No evidence of illegal trade
o No evidence of poaching from the wild
o No look-alike concerns (only CITES-listed species in Crassulaceae family)
• Therefore, the species can be deleted from
Appendix II.
Thank you
Rosemarie Gnam, Ph.D.
Division of Scientific Authority
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Dr.
Arlington, VA 22203
[email protected]
703-358-1708
Questions/Feedback?