Secretary-General's statements

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Plenary, 3 July 2022, Bonn Biodiversity related MEAs statement - Ivonne Higuero, Secretary-General of CITES I am speaking on behalf of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the International Whaling Commission and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Statement By the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions (BLG) Fourth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (WG2020-4) on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework Nairobi, 21 – 26 June 2022 Thank you, Mr Chair. Distinguished delegates, it is an honor for me to deliver a statement on behalf of the Liaison Group of the Biodiversity-related Conventions, known as the BLG. We join others in thanking UNEP for hosting this meeting, and commend the co-Chairs and the CBD Secretariat for the preparatory work they have undertaken to advance negotiations on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

We have a fight on our hands. We are losing biodiversity at an unprecedented rate and science has told us there will be consequences. Nature is our frontline defense against climate change. It gives us food, shelter and medicines. It cleans the air we breathe and the water we drink. It is the basis for our economy, our societies and our existence. All of us must work hard to halt the loss of biodiversity.

Mother Earth Day message - April 2022 From CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero

On the occasion of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Region – Coordinated by UNECE and The International Telecommunication Union CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero, on ‘Building Digital Ecosystems’. Delivered in Geneva on 6 April 2022. It is an honor for me to speak on this very important topic - thanks to UNECE and ITU for the invitation. Excellencies, dear delegates, before I speak about the topic of the session, allow me to provide some background on CITES. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora or CITES is a legally binding, multilateral environmental agreement with 184 Parties.

Ivonne Higuero, CITES Secretary-General 89th General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health 23 May 2022   >>Slide 1 OIE President, Dr Hugo Federico Idoyaga Benítez; Director General, Dr Monique Eloit; Distinguished speakers at this opening ceremony, OIE Delegates and observers around the world, it is a great pleasure for me to be able to address this 89th General Session of your World Assembly and I am grateful for the invitation. >>Slide 2

Secretary-General's Opening Statement to the 74th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee   Mr Jean Patrick Le Duc, chief of delegation of France and Chair of the European Council, Mr Pierre Athanaze, Vice President of the Metropole, Ms Carolina Caceres, Chair of the CITES Standing Committee, Distinguished Standing Committee Members, Parties, observers, Ladies and Gentlemen Good morning to all. I am grateful to Her Excellency Barbara Pompili, Minister of Ecological Transition of France for her thoughtful video, and sorry that her excellency Bérangère ABBA, State Secretary for biodiversity, is ill. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice - Expert Discussions on Crimes that Affect the Environment - Vienna, Austria Keynote address by Ivonne Higuero, Secretary-General of CITES 14 February 2022 Your Excellency Barbara POMPILI, Minister for Ecological Transition of France Your Excellency Takeshi HiKIHARA, Chair of the CCPCJ Ms Ghada WALY, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen,