[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36550-36552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15024]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2014-0018; FF09A1000 145 FXIA16710900000]
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; Seventeenth
Regular Meeting; Species Proposals for Consideration
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: We invite you to provide us with information and
recommendations on animal and plant species that should be considered
as candidates for U.S. proposals to amend Appendices I and II of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES or the Convention) at the upcoming seventeenth meeting
of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17). Such amendments may concern
the addition of species to Appendix I or II, the transfer of species
from one Appendix to another or the removal of species from Appendix
II. Finally, with this notice, we also describe the U.S. approach to
preparations for CoP17. We will publish a second Federal Register
notice to solicit information and recommendations on possible
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for discussion at CoP17 and to
provide information on how to request approved observer status.
DATES: We will consider all information and comments we receive on or
before August 26, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments pertaining to recommendations on
animal and plant species that should be considered as candidates for
U.S. proposals to amend Appendices I and II of CITES at CoP17 by one of
the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http//www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-
IA-2014-0018 (the docket number for this notice).
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn. FWS-HQ-IA-2014-0018; Division of Policy and Directives
Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS
2042-PDM; Arlington VA 22203.
We will not consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an
address not listed in the ADDRESSES section. Comments and materials we
receive in response to this notice will be posted for public inspection
on http://www.regulations.gov and will be available by appointment,
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Division of Scientific Authority, 4401 N. Fairfax
Drive, room 110, Arlington, VA 22203; telephone 703-358-1708.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosemarie Gnam, Chief, Division of
Scientific Authority; phone 703-358-1708; fax 703-358-2276; email:
scientificauthority@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora, hereinafter referred to as CITES or the Convention, is
an international treaty designed to regulate international trade in
certain animal and plant species that are now, or potentially may
become, threatened with extinction. These species are listed in the
Appendices to CITES, which are available on the CITES Secretariat's Web
site at http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php.
Currently, 180 countries, including the United States, are Parties
to CITES. The Convention calls for regular biennial meetings of the
Conference of the Parties, unless the Conference decides otherwise. At
these meetings, the Parties review the implementation of CITES, make
provisions enabling the CITES Secretariat in Switzerland to carry out
its functions, consider amendments to the list of species in Appendices
I and II, consider reports presented by the Secretariat, and make
recommendations for the improved effectiveness of CITES. Any country
that is a Party to CITES may propose amendments to Appendices I and II,
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for consideration by all the
Parties at the meeting.
This is our first in a series of Federal Register notices that,
together with an announced public meeting (time and place to be
announced), provide you with an opportunity to participate in the
development of the U.S. submissions to, and negotiating positions for,
the seventeenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to
CITES (CoP17). Our regulations governing this public process are found
in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at Sec. 23.87.
Announcement of the Seventeenth Meeting of the Conference of the
Parties
We hereby notify you of the convening of CoP17, which is
tentatively scheduled to be held in
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South Africa, in 2016, at a venue city and date to be determined.
U.S. Approach for CoP17
What are the priorities for U.S. submissions for species proposals to
CoP17?
Priorities for U.S. submissions to CoP17 continue to be consistent
with the overall objective of U.S. participation in the Convention: To
maximize the effectiveness of the Convention in the conservation and
sustainable use of species subject to international trade. With this in
mind, we plan to consider the following factors in determining what
issues to submit for inclusion in the agenda at CoP17:
(1) Does the proposed action address a serious wildlife or plant
trade issue that the United States is experiencing as a range country
for species in trade? Since our primary responsibility is the
conservation of our domestic wildlife resources, we will give native
species the highest priority. We will place particular emphasis on
terrestrial and freshwater species with the majority of their range in
the United States and its territories that are or may be traded in
significant numbers; marine species that occur in U.S. waters or for
which the United States is a major trader; and threatened and
endangered species for which we and other Federal and State agencies
already have statutory responsibility for protection and recovery. We
also consider CITES listings as a proactive measure to monitor and
manage trade in native species to preclude the need for the application
of stricter measures, such as listing under the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), or inclusion in CITES
Appendix I.
(2) Does the proposed action address a serious wildlife or plant
trade issue for species not native to the United States? As a major
importer of wildlife, plants, and their products, the United States has
taken responsibility, by working in close consultation with range
countries, for addressing cases of potential over-exploitation of
foreign species in the wild. In some cases, the United States may not
be a range country or a significant trading country for a species, but
we will work closely with other countries to conserve species being
threatened by unsustainable exploitation for international trade. We
will consider CITES listings for species not native to the United
States if those listings will assist in addressing cases of known or
potential over-exploitation of foreign species in the wild, and in
preventing illegal, unregulated trade, especially if the United States
is a major importer. These species will be prioritized based on the
extent of trade and status of the species, and also the role the
species play in the ecosystem, with emphasis on those species for which
a CITES listing would offer the greatest conservation benefits to the
species, associated species, and their habitats.
(3) Does the proposed action provide additional conservation
benefit for a species already covered by another international
agreement? The United States will consider the listing of such a
species under CITES when it would enhance the conservation of the
species by ensuring that international trade is effectively regulated
and not detrimental to the survival of the species.
Request for Information and Recommendations for Amending Appendices I
or II
The purpose of this notice is to solicit information and
recommendations that will help us identify species that the United
States should propose for addition to, removal from, or
reclassification in the CITES Appendices, or to identify issues
warranting attention by the CITES specialists on zoological and
botanical nomenclature. This request is not limited to species
occurring in the United States. Any Party may submit proposals
concerning animal or plant species occurring in the wild anywhere in
the world. We encourage the submission of information on any species
for possible inclusion in the Appendices if these species are subject
to international trade that is, or may become, detrimental to the
survival of the species. We also encourage you to keep in mind the U.S.
approach to CoP17, described above in this notice, when considering
what species the United States should propose for inclusion in the
Appendices.
We are not necessarily requesting complete proposals, but they are
always welcome. However, we are asking you to submit convincing
information describing: (1) The status of the species, especially trend
information; (2) conservation and management programs for the species,
including the effectiveness of enforcement efforts; and (3) the level
of international as well as domestic trade in the species, especially
trend information. You may also provide any other relevant information,
and we appreciate receiving a list of references.
The term ``species'' is defined in CITES as ``any species,
subspecies, or geographically separate population thereof.'' Each
species for which trade is controlled under CITES is included in one of
three Appendices, either as a separate listing or incorporated within
the listing of a higher taxon. The basic standards for inclusion of
species in the Appendices are contained in Article II of CITES (text of
the Convention is on the CITES Secretariat's Web site at http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.php). Appendix I includes species
threatened with extinction that are or may be affected by trade.
Appendix II includes species that, although not necessarily now
threatened with extinction, may become so unless trade in them is
strictly controlled. Appendix II also lists species that must be
subject to regulation in order that trade in other CITES-listed species
may be brought under effective control. Such listings usually are
necessary because of difficulty inspectors have at ports of entry or
exit in distinguishing one species from other species. Because Appendix
III includes only species that any Party may list unilaterally, we are
not seeking input on possible U.S. Appendix-III listings with this
notice, and we will not consider or respond to comments received
concerning Appendix-III listings.
CITES specifies that international trade in any readily
recognizable parts or derivatives of animals listed in Appendices I or
II, or plants listed in Appendix I, is subject to the same conditions
that apply to trade in the whole organisms. With certain standard
exclusions formally approved by the Parties, the same applies to the
readily recognizable parts and derivatives of most plant species listed
in Appendix II. Parts and derivatives often not included (i.e., not
regulated) for Appendix-II plants are: seeds, spores, pollen (including
pollinia), and seedlings or tissue cultures obtained in vitro and
transported in sterile containers. You may refer to the CITES
Appendices on the Secretariat's Web site at http://www.cites.org/eng/app/index.php for further exceptions and limitations.
In 1994, the CITES Parties adopted criteria for inclusion of
species in Appendices I and II (Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16)).
These criteria apply to all listing proposals and are available from
the CITES Secretariat's Web site at http://www.cites.org/eng/res/index.php or upon request from the Division of Scientific Authority at
ScientificAuthority@fws.gov, or via mail from, CITES Division of
Scientific Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 110, Arlington,
Virginia 22203. Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16) also provides a
format for proposals to
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amend the Appendices. This information is also available upon request
from the Division of Scientific Authority at
ScientificAuthority@fws.gov, or via mail from CITES Division of
Scientific Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 110, Arlington,
Virginia 22203.
What information should be submitted?
In response to this notice, to provide us with information and
recommendations on species subject to international trade for possible
proposals to amend the Appendices, please include as much of the
following information as possible in your submission:
(1) Scientific name and common name;
(2) Population size estimates (including references if available);
(3) Population trend information;
(4) Threats to the species (other than trade);
(5) The level or trend of international trade (as specific as
possible but without a request for new searches of our records);
(6) The level or trend in total take from the wild (as specific as
reasonable); and
(7) A short summary statement clearly presenting the rationale for
inclusion in, or removal or transfer from, one of the Appendices,
including which of the criteria in Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16)
are met.
If you wish to submit more complete proposals for us to consider,
please consult Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16) for the format for
proposals and a detailed explanation of each of the categories.
Proposals to transfer a species from Appendix I to Appendix II, or to
remove a species from Appendix II, must also be in accordance with the
precautionary measures described in Annex 4 of Resolution Conf. 9.24
(Rev. CoP16).
What will we do with the information we receive?
The information that you submit will help us decide if we should
submit, or co-sponsor with other Parties, a proposal to amend the CITES
Appendices. However, there may be species that might qualify for CITES
listing but for which we may decide not to submit a proposal to CoP17.
Our decision will be based on a number of factors, including available
scientific and trade information; whether or not the species is native
to the United States; and for foreign species, whether or not a
proposal is supported or co-sponsored by at least one range country for
the species. These factors and others are included in the U.S. approach
to CoP17, described above in this notice. We will carefully consider
all factors of the U.S. approach when deciding which species the United
States should propose for inclusion in the Appendices.
We will consult range countries for foreign species, and for
species we share with other countries, after receiving and analyzing
the information provided by the public in response to this notice as
well as other information available to us.
One important function of the CITES Scientific Authority of each
Party country is monitoring the international trade in plant and animal
species, and ongoing scientific assessments of the impact of that trade
on species. For native U.S. species listed in Appendices I and II, we
monitor trade and export permits authorized so that we can prevent
over-utilization and restrict exports if necessary. We also work
closely with the States to ensure that species are correctly listed in
the CITES Appendices (or not listed, if a listing is not warranted).
For these reasons, we actively seek information about U.S. and foreign
species subject to international trade.
Future Actions
As stated above, the next regular meeting of the Conference of the
Parties (CoP17) is tentatively scheduled to be held in South Africa, in
2016. The United States must submit any proposals to amend Appendix I
or II, or any draft resolutions, decisions, or agenda items for
discussion at CoP17, to the CITES Secretariat 150 days prior to the
start of the meeting. In order to meet this deadline and to prepare for
CoP17, we have developed a tentative U.S. schedule.
We plan to publish a Federal Register notice approximately 15
months prior to CoP17; in that notice, we intend to request potential
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for discussion at CoP17, and
to announce the tentative species proposals that the United States is
considering submitting for CoP17 and solicit further information and
comments on them.
Approximately 9 months prior to CoP17, we plan to publish a Federal
Register notice announcing proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda
items the United States is considering submitting for CoP17.
Approximately 4 months prior to CoP17, we will post on our Web site
an announcement of the species proposals, draft resolutions, draft
decisions, and agenda items submitted by the United States to the CITES
Secretariat for consideration at CoP17.
Through a series of additional notices and Web site postings in
advance of CoP17, we will inform you about preliminary negotiating
positions on resolutions, decisions, and amendments to the Appendices
proposed by other Parties for consideration at CoP17, and about how to
obtain observer status from us. We will also publish an announcement of
a public meeting tentatively to be held approximately 3 months prior to
CoP17; that meeting will enable us to receive public input on our
positions regarding CoP17 issues. The procedures for developing U.S.
documents and negotiating positions for a meeting of the Conference of
the Parties to CITES are outlined in 50 CFR 23.87. As noted, we may
modify or suspend the procedures outlined there if they would interfere
with the timely or appropriate development of documents for submission
to the CoP and of U.S. negotiating positions.
Author
The primary author of this notice is Jon Siemien, Division of
Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: May 20, 2014.
Rowan W. Gould,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-15024 Filed 6-26-14; 8:45 am]
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