MONDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2002: In October 2001, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism invited interested South African citizens and registered South African non-governmental organisations to register with the department to assist in its preparation for the 12th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP 12) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The meeting will take place in Chile in November this year.

At the same time provinces and statutory bodies were requested to provide the department with possible proposals which could be considered for submission to CITES COP 12. By 31 January 2002 the department had received the following:

1. Draft proposal for the international sale of the Kruger National Park ivory stockpile.
2. Draft proposal to list the South African population of Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robutus) in CITES Appendix I.
3. Draft proposal to alter certain conditions attached to the Appendix II listing of the South African population of the Southern White Rhinoceros.
4. Draft proposal to list the roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) in Appendix II of CITES.
5. Draft proposal to list the sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) in Appendix II of CITES.
6. Amendment of Resolution Conf. 10.14 -- quotas for leopard-hunting trophies and skins for personal use
7. Draft proposal for a hunting quota in specimens of free roaming cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus).

These are draft proposals which still have to be discussed and taken through various political processes before the final proposals will be submitted to the CITES Secretariat in June 2002.

The draft proposals were discussed at a joint meeting of the department, its statutory bodies and provincial nature conservation authorities, where they were approved in principle.

The proposals were also distributed to the registered parties for their comments to be submitted to the department before 13 February 2002. A workshop with registered parties is envisaged for the first week in March where these parties will again have the opportunity to discuss and debate the draft proposals. Interested parties who support or oppose the draft proposals and want to be included in this process, should register with the department before the workshop.

Following this consultation process the draft proposals will be submitted to a meeting of the department with the heads of provincial nature conservation authorities for consideration. After this meeting the draft proposals will be submitted to a meeting of the Minister with the MECs from the provinces for consideration before submitting it to Cabinet for final approval. After Cabinet approved the proposals, South Africa will submit the final proposals to the CITES Secretariat for discussion at COP 12.

Interested parties who would like to register can contact Ms Sonja Meintjes on (012) 310-3545 or e-mail her at smeintjes@ozone.pwv.gov.za.