DRC RESPONSE TO CITES COP15 OUTREACH ON U.S. SPECIES

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000158 SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/ENRC (LLOYD GAMBLE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV KSCA AORC UNEP CG SUBJECT: DRC RESPONSE TO CITES COP15 OUTREACH ON U.S. SPECIES PROPOSALS REF: 10 STATE 6668; 09 STATE 125262 ¶1. (U) In response to ref A, Econoff delivered demarche talking points to DRC Minister of Environment, Conservation of Nature and Tourism Jose Endundo on February 1. ¶2. (U) Endundo applauded the USG's commitment to save endangered species, and for its commitment to conservation of nature in general. He said that the GDRC thanked the USG and was generally supportive of the U.S. proposals regarding sharks, corals, polar bears, bobcats and particularly snakes. He indicated that 300,000 snakes are killed each year in the DRC. He said that snakes are killed for either food or to prevent venomous attacks against people. ¶3. (U) Endundo stated that the GDRC would welcome additional information from other competent institutions regarding the aforementioned species, since this would be indispensable for the GDRC delegation to understand the stakes involved and the role they should play at the upcoming 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP15) for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),which will take place March 13-25 in Doha, Qatar. ¶4. (U) He said that the DRC delegation to CoP15 would be led by Mr. Augustin Mawala Nzola Meso from the CITES management office at the Ministry of Environment (Contact information: Tel. number: +243-997-592-965, e-mail: augumawalala@yahoo.fr). He will be accompanied by two other members of the Scientific Authority. GARVELINK