- Title: Nature suffering 'dangerous decline' experts warn
- Date: 17th August 2019
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (AUGUST 17, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS, DELEGATES AND PARTICIPANTS HOLDING A MINUTE OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF SRI LANKA ATTACKS IN APRIL (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INGER ANDERSEN, SAYING: "The future of biodiversity is at stake, but as I said earlier, we have a unique opportunity to change the course. 2020 will be the super year for environmental decision making. Paris (Climate Agreement) will go into effect, the CBD (Convention on biological diversity) post-2020 framework, the oceans conference...we are here setting that stage, your ten-year vision lays the path. We need to ensure the decisions at this COP set the right tone. We must ensure that they inform and drive a more robust and ambitious decision-making to save biodiveristy on our planet. And to ensure that it drives benefits for people, as well as for the biological world." VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS ARRIVING FOR COP 18 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (AUGUST 16, 2019) (REUTERS) VENUE FOR COP 18 / BOARD ON THE BUILDING READING (French, English and Spanish) "CITES COP 18 -- 18TH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES" WITH IMAGES OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSED PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STEPS EXTERIOR OF BUILDING BOARD BLURRING
- Embargoed: 31st August 2019 12:56
- Keywords: The Convention on Trade and endangered species animal protection wildlife protection Geneva Switzerland Endangered animals
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Environment,Nature/Wildlife
- Reuters ID: LVA006ASLVTJB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Experts attending the U.N. wildlife watchdog opening session on Saturday (August 17) warned that "business as usual" was no longer an option, as an acceleration in wildlife extinction was pushing nature into an unprecedented and "dangerous decline".
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which regulates the buying and selling of species at risk of extinction around the world, opened its main Conference of the Parties (COP) on Saturday.
During the ten-day long meeting, delegates from 183 states, which are signatories of CITES, will consider 56 proposals meant at modifying the level of protection of animals such as elephants, giraffes, rhino, sharks, rays, pangolins or tortoise, but also minerals like rose wood.
The Convention, which already covers nearly 36,000 species, regulate trade either by imposing outright bans or requiring permits so that rare animals and plants are not over-harvested.
Opening the Conference, CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero warned that this COP could not be just business as usual, while the U.N. Environment Programme Executive-Director, Inger Andersen, urged for ambitious decisions and spirit.
The fate of mako sharks, rhinos, and precious wood used to make musical instruments, are on the agenda. African elephants will also focus a great part of attention.
(Production: Marina Depetris, Rosalind Church) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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