India will  seek  the support & cooperation  of International community for the conservation of wildlife, and especially in India’s endeavors for addressing concerns of tiger conservation.

 Minister for Environment & Forests, Shri Namo Narain Meena, who left early in the morning today to attend the Ministerial Round table Conference on Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora tomorrow at Hague, Netherlands will particularly talk about ban on illegal trade in tiger products.  .

 The CITES convenes Conference of the Parties  regularly. This is  the 14^th Convention of Parties which is convened at The Hague, Netherlands, from the 3^rd June to 15^th June 2007.   During the present CoP, several issues  relating to conservation of endangered species including Tiger, Elephant, Star tortoise, Sharks etc would be discussed.

Few major issues, that are being discussed during the conference,  with respect to India are :

i)                    The National Wildlife Trade  Policy Reviews, which has been initiated by the CITES Secretariat consequent to decision of Conf.D13.74, requires  the importing countries to carry out the review keeping supply & demand.  Accordingly, a new exercise on the Wildlife trade policy will be necessitated. However, India has an elaborate EXIM Policy incorporating  the various aspects of wildlife trade, which is regularly reviewed and appropriate modifications effected.

ii)                    For better and effective control and enforcement of Global illegal wildlife crime, especially in case of Tiger and its parts, it has been proposed to organize a Enforcement Expert Workshop, before the next CoP and submit their report.  As regards to India, A National Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is in position now and would help in the better & effective enforcement  for controlling the illegal trade.

iii)                  India is of the view that the proposal regarding control of internet trade in CITES Specimens should be controlled and for this purpose a workshop be conducted, be supported.

iv)                   A resolution is being proposed for finalizing the definition of marine environment not under the jurisdiction of any state . Since the legal ambit is involved in the definition of marine environment, the Ministry of Environment & Forests has sought the opinion of Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Ocean development before finalizing India’s position.

v)                    It is being proposed to review the harmonaization of national & international guidelines for transportation of live animals/plants and propose revision, if necessary.   India supports both the revision of the resolution and the decision.

vi)                   The country reports on Asian Big Cats would be discussed, wherein, the India’s report on the conservation measures for tiger etc had been submitted to the CITES Secretariat.  India  has also proposed for signing a tripartite protocol with Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh on tigers. The matter is presently being taken up by the Ministry of External Affairs.

vii)                 A discussion on the African ivory trade  regarding  insufficient control in trade of ivory by some of African countries would also be made. India has been opposing the opening of trade in African  ivory.

viii)                Control of trade and conservation of Tibetan Antelope, Tortoises,  Rhino, Medicinal Plants, etc would also find a place during the discussions. 

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora is an international agreement between  Governments with an aim to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals  and plants does not threaten their survival.  CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted  in 1963  at a meeting of members  of IUCN (The World Conservation Union) and on July 1975, CITES entered in force.   At present there are 171 countries as party to the CITES. The Government of India signed the Convention in July 1976, which was ratified in October 1976. Apart from participating actively in the Conference of Parties (COP),  India also hosted the third COP at New Delhi during February-March 1981.The Director, Wildlife Preservation has been designated as  the CITES Management Authority for India. Dr. R.B. Lal, IGF (WL) and Dr. Rajesh Gopal from the ministry are already  attending the convention.

KP