Convention on International Trade on Endangered Flora and Fauna ( CITES ).
The Japanese tried to have a resolution approved to downlist the whales from CITES Appendix I and II, so then they will could kill more of them. Not to our surprise, but Canada was the first country to support Japan, and then the usual "puppets" of the small Caribbean islands and some African and Pacific islands and countries, joined them.
When the votes came, they lost, so the whales are still in those already mentioned CITES Appendices.
The relation between the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and CITES ( Convention in International Trade of Endangered Flora and Fauna), was reaffirmed and the IWC was recognized as The Authority for the Conservation and Management of whales, that Japan tried to change in February 2007 in Japan, in their "normalization" meeting with their big time allies: Norway, Iceland, Russia, Denmark and Japan's puppets.
Japan didn't want to recognize the IWC as THE whale authority and want it to change it, so instead of been an institution for whale conservation to be there for the benefits of the whalers and their industry.
Unfortunately, the proposal of Kenya to protect Rhinos was rejected. About the exportation quotas of Leopard skins it was approved :
APPENDIX-I SPECIES SUBJECT TO EXPORT QUOTAS: Leopard export quotas for Mozambique: MOZAMBIQUE requested approval to increase its annual export quota for leopard hunting trophies and skins for personal use from 60 to 120. Many parties and NGOs supported the proposal, with several stating that the increase was conservative and would be sustainable. Israel and the Humane Society International cautioned that the increase was based on out-of-date data and was not scientifically rigorous. The proposal was approved by consensus, with ISRAEL formally registering its concern.
Leopard export quotas for Uganda: Uganda presented its revised proposal to reduce the annual quota from 50 to 28 specimens. The proposal was approved by the Committee, noting ISRAEL’s reservation, and with the Democratic Republic of Congo expressing concern over the threat of increased poaching of its leopard populations.
Black rhinoceros export quotas for Namibia and South Africa: Kenya introduced its proposal for repealing Namibia and South Africa’s annual quotas of five black rhinoceroses citing concerns about sustainability of quota levels and increased poaching. Supported by Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, he suggested that other African countries could pay Namibia and South Africa for the costs of translocating any unwanted animals. Namibia and S. Africa, stressed the conservation and livelihood benefits of trophy hunting and refuted claims of unsustainable quota levels and poaching increases. The issue was put to a vote, resulting in Kenya’s proposal being rejected.
Good News:
The Japanese Proposal to down list the 13 great whales of CITES from Appendix I (threatened with extintion) , was rejected by an overwhelming vote.
The Icelandic Proposal of a full review of the Fin whales was rejected by votes from the Parties (delegations).
Delegates at the ongoing meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES in The Hague, Netherlands, today overwhelmingly rejected an American proposal to remove the Bobcat (Lynx rufus) from protection under the CITES Appendices. The proposal was defeated by a majority of more than two to one.
Despite the fact that the USA has repeatedly tried and failed to have such a measure approved, Parties including Mexico, Serbia, Germany on behalf of the EU and India strongly opposed the measure.
The European Eel proposal, introduced by Germany on behalf of the European Union, was approved by an overwhelming 93 % of votes in favour - Surprisingly Japan and Canada were in favour too ! -
Unfortunately, for the Spiny Dogfish (shark from the north of BC), and the Porbeagle shark Proposals to be listed on Appendix II (this last one from the Atlantic side of Canada and both of them are also found in other countries), did not get enough votes to be accepted, failing by only few votes. Canada was the first country to go against the proposals to list and protect these over exploted sharks, saying they will take local management of these species, and Japan and the "usual suspects'', voted against the proposals too.
The big concern of this CITES, was about the proposals on the African Elephants, that took several days and ended up with long Ministerial meetings.
Kenya and Mali had a proposal to ban the ivory trade for 20 years.
Bostwana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbawe, want it to open trade on ivory to sell their confiscated ivory, which will only increase the poaching problem among these countries, and more countries would join them later on. The sell of the confiscated ivory, would not benefit the poor people, but only the "intermediaries, and when things would get out of control like they were 20 years ago,when elephants were almost hunted to extintion, how could these countries control the poachers? Also, these countries have not the economical power to do non stop DNA testing to prove which ivory is new and which one is old ...
It was quite hectic and stressful for all of us who are in favour of the protection and conservation of these wonderful African animals. Nine years it's not much, but it is better that nothing and certainly much better than an open trade on ivory.
About the Tigers, global enforcement was called upon to end the poaching and illegal tiger parts trade. China banned all trades on tiger. Still so, they will keep breeding facilities to breed and try to release tigers in the wild.
Breeding tiger facilities, are filthy, tiny enclosed cages. There they keep the tigers until when they are killed mostly for their bodies and bones to be used to create "tiger wine" that is considered medicinal and aphrodisiac.