Roundup: World wildlife conference has a productive first week: CITES head

The first week of the world wildlife conference in Johannesburg has been busy and productive, CITES Secretary-General John Scanlon said on Thursday.

Scanlon said at a press briefing that what has been agreed on by different CITES committees will be adopted at the plenary session on the last two days of the conference.

If issues need to be resuscitated, one third of those available have to support them, he said during the 17th Conference of Parties (Cop17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

"There were decisions to amend appendices, and significant decisions were made to uplist species. Four African species of pangolins and four Asian ones were moved to apex I since they are faced with a threat of extinction. There should be no commercial trade in them," Scanlon said.

A lot has happened since CoP17 kicked off on Sept. 24.

Scanlon said the conference has accepted decisions and resolutions on listing totoaba and vaquita as endangered species, put forward by Mexico, China and the United States.

These countries, he said, show strong commitment to combat illegal trade in wildlife.

The conference, for the first time, has also passed a resolution to address corruption.

The EU and Senegal have proposed that governments incorporate corruption explicitly into their anti-wildlife trafficking work.

There is also a heated debate on trophy hunting, according to Scanlon. Compromise has been reached to allow regulated hunting while at the same time benefiting the local community, he said.

A regulatory framework which takes into account economic perspective of the community living next to the animals and sustainability was agreed upon, Scanlon added.

Also, South Africa's proposal to transfer the Cape Mountain Zebra from Appendix I to Appendix II was unanimously adopted at the COP17.

Scanlon said there has been serious discussion about whether domestic markets of ivory should be closed, adding that a compromise in the topic is in sight.

"This is the busiest conference with largest delegation of over 3,000 (delegates), 300-page documents weighing 15 kilograms. Many have high expectations and are actively involved," David Morgan, Chief for Governing Bodies and Meeting Services at CITES Secretariat, told Xinhua.

Over 500 species are being discussed at CoP 17, which will last until October 5. Endit