Peru to Consider USG Cites Proposals

UNCLAS LIMA 000256 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV KSCA AORC UNEP PE SUBJECT: Peru to Consider USG Cites Proposals REF: STATE 6668 ¶1. SUMMARY: EconOff and REO Hub Officers met with officials from the Ministry of External Relations, Ministry of Environment, Vice Ministry of Fisheries of the Ministry of Production and Export, and the Peru Ocean Institute (IMARPE) regarding reftel CITES proposals. Visiting OES Marine Science Officer Todd Capson attended many of these meetings and presented USG positions on sharks and coral. On February 19, the Government of Peru (GoP) will hold an inter-agency meeting to determine its position on CITES proposals. Additionally, from February 24-26, a regional meeting of countries within the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA) will be held to coordinate positions (but not to necessarily reach consensus). End Summary. ¶2. Sharks: GoP officials found it particularly interesting that Ecuador has committed to support the USG proposal regarding sharks, even though its third most commercially important species of shark, Sphyrna zygaena (also known as smooth hammerhead, cachuda blanca or cornuda prieta),is included in the list. Post was advised that Sphyrna zygaena is also the third most commercially significant species for Peru. It was clear from the discussions that GoP understood the rationale for proposing these species for Appendix II, and the importance of managing their populations. We heard unofficially from one GoP interlocutor that the GoP discussion on sharks would likely lead to support for inclusion of several (but not all) of the shark species in Appendix II. We reminded that interlocutor that CITES procedure does not permit an affirmative vote for only part of a proposal. ¶3. Coral: Although not of major interest to our interlocutors, a Ministry of Environment official inquired whether there is actual support for these proposals. ¶4. Polar Bear: Some officials questioned to what extent commercial trade was threatening the polar bear and whether CITES is a proper tool. They seemed to be somewhat convinced that commercial trade compounds the threat posed by habitat loss, but a decision on GoP position is deferred until their inter-agency consultation. ¶5. Bobcat; Snake Trade Conservation and Management: On the bobcat proposal, the officials generally listened to the demarche without indicating any particular inclination. The Snake Trade Conservation and Management discussion document was also met with interest only to the extent of understanding that the USG co-sponsored a discussion document rather than a proposal. ¶6. A GoP inter-agency panel will review CITES proposals submitted on February 19 and develop its position on these proposals. A workshop will be held on February 24-26 "to coordinate positions" among the member countries of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization. This organization includes Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. We were advised that GoP officials do not anticipate a need to reach consensus with this body on all proposals. ¶7. COMMENT: While no promises were made, our interlocutors understood USG rational on the shark proposal. We anticipate that the GoP interagency group will weight USG proposals against the positions communicated by other countries. McKinley