Intervention by CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero as Vice-Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF)
Agenda item 3 (b) (i): Contributions of the CPF, its member organizations & the UN system to achieving the thematic priorities; progress on the workplan of the Partnership
Thank you, Chair.
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Congratulations to the Chair, the bureau, and the UNFF Secretariat for the successful organization of this session.
It is a privilege to address you today on behalf of the CITES Secretariat and as an active member of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests. CITES is a legally binding international treaty supporting actions aligned with its mandate which contribute to the achievement of the Global Forest Goals, particularly Goals 1, 3, and 5.
This year we mark 50 years since CITES entered into force. For five decades, the now 185 CITES Parties have worked to ensure that international trade in wild fauna and flora is legal, sustainable, and traceable. Today, CITES regulates around 800 tree species, with over 600 added in the last decade. This is a testament to your global commitment to sustainable use and forest biodiversity conservation.
Through scientific and legal requirements for trade permits, CITES plays a vital role in promoting sustainable timber trade. Guidance is now available using key principles of sustainable forest management (SFM) for Parties to consider when undertaking non detriment findings for tree species traded as timber or wood products.
Challenges remain, however, such as overexploitation and timber trafficking. We continue to support Parties in combating these challenges through trade regulation, strengthened governance and enforcement, and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods.
A major step is our new 10.5 million Euro CITES Tree Species Project, funded by Germany and the EU, which aims to help countries better implement CITES for tree species conservation and sustainable use and to combat illegal logging. This initiative highlights the strength of partnerships and is being proposed as a CPF joint initiative. We are now welcoming proposals by our Parties for funding.
We will gather in November for the 20th meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Do engage with your CITES authorities before the June 27th deadline for listings proposals. This will ensure collaboration at the national level for well-informed decisions for trees.
The CITES Secretariat remains committed to working with you to achieve the shared goals through the regulation of trade.
Thank you.