Secretary-General's statements

  Opening Remarks at the 25th Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee by CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero 2 June 2021 Madame Chair of the Plants Committee, Members of the Plants Committee, Distinguished delegates and participants, Dear colleagues and friends,

  Opening Remarks at the 31st Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee by CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero 31 May 2021 Chair of the Animals Committee, Members of the Animals Committee, Distinguished delegates and participants, Dear colleagues and friends,

We are fortunate to benefit from the goods and services provided by wild species that are an intrinsic part of our planet’s biological diversity. Though we may not always recognize it, these services and the species that provide them are the principal source of all elements of human well-being, from our food, to our medicines and our shelter. At CITES, we are very aware of the extent to which many people around the world rely on wildlife for their livelihoods and to meet their basic needs. CITES Parties work tirelessly to ensure that international trade in wild fauna and flora can benefit their environment, their citizens and their economies, without putting at risk the survival of the species in the wild.

Wilton Park virtual dialogue on Post 2020 Wildlife Trade: current challenges and opportunities Opening remarks of CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero 18 March 2021 Minister Lord Goldsmith, Distinguished delegates and participants, Dear colleagues,

High-level Segment of the Fourteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice: Kyoto, Japan, 7-12 March 2021     Statement by CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero: President, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, I am honoured to address this august gathering, and I congratulate the Government of Japan and the UNODC for ensuring that this event could take place despite the pandemic that is impacting all Member States and their inhabitants.

Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards - 2020 Theme: Fighting Transboundary Environmental Crime   Bangkok, 17 February 2021.   Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues and law enforcement professionals. May I begin by warmly thanking the organizers for inviting me to this gathering. I congratulate you on your continued efforts to recognize and celebrate excellence in fighting transboundary environmental crime. I also wish to thank our partners in these awards: the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, INTERPOL, and the World Customs Organization.

World Ranger Day 2020 Message from CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero 31 July 2020 On World Ranger Day 2020, let us show our support for those who guard our planet’s wildlife and biodiversity. World Ranger Day is a day to honor the extraordinary work, courage and dedication of those who are on the front lines of conservation efforts in our valuable ecosystems and in the struggle against wildlife crime. We are fortunate to be able to rely on these courageous women and men who heed the call of nature and serve as the guardians of rainforests, reserves or national parks in every corner of the planet, under any climate or circumstance.

Opening remarks at the high-level event at UN Headquarters marking World Wildlife Day 2020 CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero 3 March 2020, UN Headqurters, New York Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Friends and colleagues: I am honoured to welcome you all as one of the hosts of the 2020 UN World Wildlife Day celebrations. Thank you for taking the time to join us in celebrating the wildlife with which we share this planet.