Yesterday CITES announced a recommendation to suspend trade with Nigeria, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In July 2014 CITES directed a number of countries to develop a national ivory action plan due to their connection to the poaching of elephants and illegal trade in ivory. This plan was to be submitted by 31 October 2014.
Nigeria, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo failed to submit these plans, despite reminder letters being issued in January and February 2015.
Thus CITES has issued a notification recommending that all parties suspend commercial trade in specimens of CITES-listed species with these three countries until further notice.
The news has been applauded by a number of wildlife conservation groups, including the World Parrot Trust which posted on their Facebook page: “Today is a HUGE day for wild African Grey Parrots! The CITES Secretariat has issued a trade suspension for all CITES Appendix II species from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the larger exporter of African grey parrots. This means that importing countries should no longer accept any export permits from DRC, and that thousands of wild parrots are now protected from the trade. This is not a permanent measure but we are hoping that it will last as long as possible.”
Read more about the trade of African grey parrots: Shades of Grey
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