PANGOLINS

Delegates showed their support for increasing the protection given to the eight species of pangolin. All are currently protected under Appendix II, but a draft resolution noted that current measures had not prevented ongoing declines.

ELEPHANTS

Many countries – including all those in the EU, the USA and many African states -called for any discussion of legalising the trade in ivory to be suspended. This has now been pushed back to the bigger CITES conference taking place later this year.

HARDWOODS

A briefing was held on the unsustainable trade in tropical hardwood species, particularly for the lucrative Chinese ‘hongmu’ furniture industry. Some species need to be given a CITES listing, while others should have their protection increased, says the EIA.