[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12199-12202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04295]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2021-0008; FXIA16710900000-FF09A10000-212]
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Nineteenth
Regular Meeting: Species Proposals for Consideration and Request for
Information and Recommendations on Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda
Items for Consideration
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: To implement the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or the Convention),
the Parties to the Convention meet periodically to review what species
in international trade should be regulated and other aspects of CITES
implementation. The nineteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the
Parties (CoP19) is tentatively scheduled to be held in Costa Rica,
March 3-14, 2022. With this notice we are soliciting recommendations
for amending Appendices I and II of CITES at CoP19 as well as
recommendations for resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for
discussion at CoP19. We invite you to provide us with information and
recommendations on animal and plant species for which the United States
should consider submitting proposals to amend Appendices I and II of
CITES at CoP19. Such proposals 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 Appendices. We also invite you to
provide us with information and recommendations on resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items that the United States might consider
submitting for discussion at CoP19. Finally, with this notice, we also
describe the U.S. approach to preparations for CoP19.
DATES: We will consider all information and comments we receive on or
before May 3, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
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(1) Electronically: Using the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov, search for FWS-HQ-IA-2021-0008, which is the
docket number for this notice.
(2) U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-IA-2021-
0008; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: PRB (JAO/3W),
5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
We will not accept email or faxes. Comments and materials we
receive, as well as supporting documentation, will be available for
public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information pertaining to species
proposals, contact Rosemarie Gnam, Chief, Division of Scientific
Authority, 703-358-1708 (phone); 703-358-2276 (fax); or
scientificauthority@fws.gov (email). For information pertaining to
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items, contact Pamela Scruggs,
Chief, Division of Management Authority, at 703-358-2493 (phone); or
managementauthority@fws.gov (email). If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-
877-8339.
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 aimed at ensuring that international trade in
listed animal and plant species does not threaten their survival.
Species are included in the Appendices to CITES, which are available on
the CITES Secretariat's website at http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/species.php.
Currently there are 183 Parties to CITES, 182 countries, including
the United States, and one regional economic integration organization,
the European Union. The Convention calls for regular meetings of the
Conference of the Parties, and the Conference of the Parties has
decided that these meetings should be held every 2-3 years. At the
meetings, the Parties review the implementation of CITES, make
decisions regarding the financing and function of the CITES Secretariat
in Switzerland to enable it to carry out its functions, consider
amendments to Appendices I and II, consider reports presented by the
Secretariat, and adopt recommendations for the improved effectiveness
of CITES. Any 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 at least one public meeting (time and location to be
announced), provide you with an opportunity to provide input into the
development of the U.S. submissions to, and negotiating positions for,
CoP19. We intend to announce tentative species proposals and tentative
documents related to resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the
United States is considering submitting for CoP19, and solicit further
information and comments on them, when we publish our next CoP19-
related Federal Register notice. Our regulations guiding this public
process can be found in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) at Sec. 23.87.
Announcement of the Nineteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties
We hereby notify all interested entities of the convening of CoP19,
which is tentatively scheduled to be held in Costa Rica on March 3-14,
2022, at a location to be determined.
U.S. Approach for CoP19
What are the priorities for U.S. submissions to CoP19?
Priorities for U.S. submissions to CoP19 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 CoP19:
(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 they 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 provide 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 inclusion 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
Through this notice, we solicit information and recommendations
that will help us identify species that the United States could 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. We encourage the
submission of information on any species for possible inclusion in,
transfer between, or removal from the Appendices, including if these
species are subject to international trade that is, or may become,
detrimental to the
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survival of the species. We also encourage you to keep in mind the U.S.
approach to CoP19, described above in this notice, when considering
what proposals to amend the Appendices the United States should submit.
We ask that you 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. Although we are not requesting complete
proposals, they are always welcome.
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 website 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 includes species that must be
subject to regulation in order that trade in other CITES-listed species
may be brought under effective control. Such ``look alike'' inclusions
usually are necessary because of the difficulty inspectors have at
ports of entry or exit in distinguishing one species from other
species. Because Appendix III includes species that have been included
in the Appendix unilaterally by a Party, 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 included in Appendices I
or II, or plants included 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
included 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 website 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 (in Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17)
https://cites.org/sites/default/files/document/E-Res-09-24-R17.pdf).
These criteria apply to all proposals to amend the CITES Appendices and
are available from the CITES Secretariat's website at http://www.cites.org/eng/res/index.php or upon request from the Division of
Scientific Authority at the address provided above in ADDRESSES.
Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) also provides a format for proposals
to amend the Appendices. This information is also available upon
request from the Division of Scientific Authority or via mail (at the
address provided above in ADDRESSES).
What information should be submitted?
In any recommendations you submit 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. CoP17)
are met.
If you wish to submit more complete proposals for us to consider,
please consult Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) (https://cites.org/sites/default/files/document/E-Res-09-24-R17.pdf) 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. CoP17).
What will we do with information we receive?
The information that you submit will help us decide if we should
submit, or co-sponsor with one or more other Parties, a proposal to
amend the CITES Appendices. However, there may be species that qualify
for inclusion in the CITES Appendices for which we decide not to submit
a proposal to CoP19. Our decision will be based on a number of factors,
including the priorities we outlined above in the U.S. approach to
CoP19. We will consult range countries for foreign species, and for
species whose range the United States shares with other countries.
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 included in Appendices I and II, we
monitor trade 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 appropriately listed in the
CITES Appendices. For these reasons, we actively seek information about
U.S. and foreign species subject to international trade.
Request for Information and Recommendations on Resolutions, Decisions,
and Agenda Items
Although we have not yet received formal notice of the provisional
agenda for CoP19, we invite your input on possible agenda items that
the United States could recommend for inclusion, or on possible
resolutions and decisions of the Conference of the Parties that the
United States could submit for consideration. Copies of the agenda and
the results of the last meeting of the Conference of the Parties
(CoP18), as well as copies of all Resolutions and Decisions of the
Conference of the Parties currently in effect, are available on the
CITES Secretariat's website (http://www.cites.org/) or from the
Division of Management Authority at the address provided above in
ADDRESSES.
Future Actions
As stated above, CoP19 is tentatively scheduled to be held in Costa
Rica, in 2022. The United States must submit all proposals to amend
Appendix I or II, and draft resolutions, decisions, or agenda items for
discussion at CoP19, to the CITES Secretariat 150 days prior to
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the start of the meeting (tentatively October 4, 2021). In order to
meet this deadline and to prepare for CoP19, we plan to keep the public
informed about the CoP through a series of additional Federal Register
notices and website postings in advance of CoP19. We will announce the
tentative species proposals and proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items that the United States is considering submitting for CoP19
and solicit further information and comments on them. We will post on
our website 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 CoP19. Finally, we
will inform you about preliminary negotiating positions on resolutions,
decisions, and amendments to the Appendices proposed by other Parties
for consideration at CoP19, and about how to obtain observer status
from us. We will also publish an announcement of a public meeting
tentatively to be held approximately 4 months prior to CoP19, which
will provide an opportunity to receive public input on our positions
regarding CoP19 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.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, please be aware
that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available. If you submit a hardcopy
comment that includes personal identifying information, you may request
at the top of your document that we withhold this information from
public review; however, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do
so.
Author
The primary authors of this notice are Thomas Leuteritz, Division
of Scientific Authority, and Anne St. John, Division of Management
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.).
Martha Williams,
Senior Advisor to the Secretary, Exercising the Delegated Authority of
the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-04295 Filed 3-1-21; 8:45 am]
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