Subject: Asian Conservation Alliance


ASIAN CONSERVATION ALLIANCE (ACA)
New Delhi - 23rd & 24th February, 1998

In an extraordinary show of solidarity between NGOs from both range states
and consumer countries, wildlife conservationists from Japan, Taiwan,
Russia, Thailand, South Korea and India met in New Delhi last week to
support the fight against illegal wildlife trade in =91The Year of the=
 Tiger=92.
Members of a network called the Asian Conservation Alliance, this was their
Third General Assembly.

The Asian Conservation Alliance (ACA) was founded in 1994 by a small group
of NGOs who attended the Ninth CITES Conference of Parties in Fort
Lauderdale, USA. The group included Belinda Wright, the Executive Director
of the Wildlife Protection Society of India. As a representative from a
range state, Belinda was amazed to find that there were NGOs that
represented the consumer end of the market that were also tenaciously trying
to put a stop to the illegal trade in tiger parts, ivory, rhino horn,=20
musk and bear bile. They burnt the midnight oil and formed a pioneering and
unusual alliance between like-minded conservationists from both range states
and consumer nations.=20

ACA Members include a representative NGO from Japan, Taiwan, Russia,
Thailand, South Korea and India. The Third ACA General Assembly was hosted
by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). The occasion was the
first time that a group of NGOs from consumer countries have come to see for
themselves the problems we are facing at the world=92s major =91source=
 point=92,
here in India.=20

ACA believes it is imperative that conservationists from range states, such
as India and Russia, work closely with sympathetic supporters in consumer
nations if we are to stop the devastation caused by the consumption of
wildlife products.=20

WPSI organised a field trip for the 16 foreign ACA delegates to Ranthambhore
Tiger Reserve on Wednesday. They had two excellent sightings of tiger and
saw for themselves - alive and in its natural habitat - an animal that has
suffered so much because of the demand for its use in traditional Chinese
medicine (TCM). Ms Kumi Lee of the Wildlife Conservation Philosophy Society
of Japan (JWCS) had tears in her eyes. =93Before I cared and I fight. Now=
 I=92ve
seen, I truly understand=94, she said. The delegates were given an excellent
talk by the Acting Field Director, Mr R.V. Reddy, and were warmly
entertained by Fateh Singh Rathore.=20

The ACA team is an inspiring one - the members are mostly young, outspoken
and passionate conservationists.  Without exception, ACA members fight =93ou=
r=94
cause against incredible odds. Almost all the illegal wildlife trade in
India is destined for use outside India=92s borders where traditional=
 oriental
medicine and the use of wildlife products is still widespread. This includes
Japan, where unbelievably, the domestic sale of tiger bone medicine is still
legal. =09
=09
Accompanying the Japanese delegation was Professor Hideo Obara, a much
revered leader of the wildlife conservation movement in Japan. ACA=92s=
 General
Secretary is the dynamic Mr Masayuki Sakamoto from JWCS). =91Yuki=94, as he=
 is
affectionately known, is a lawyer who has risked everything to go against
his governments policies and, as far as the use of wildlife products is
concerned, his own culture.=20

Mr Cha Joon Yeup of Earth Eco Friends, is a legend in his own right in South
Korea where, amongst other campaigns, he has battled virtually
single-handedly against the consumption of bear bile.=20

Sergey Shaitarov and Dr Galina Salkina run the Tiger Protection Society
(TPS) in Vladivostok, Russia. TPS has stood up tenaciously against poachers
and the authorities in their national efforts to save the Amur or Siberian
Tiger.

Dr Chisanu Tiyacharoensri from the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation, apart from
his conservation activities, works tirelessly to save and heal injured
animals in Thailand.

The Life Conservationists Association of Taiwan, represented by Ms Ma Yu-Ju
and Ms Chen Yu-Min, have pioneered the conservation movement in Taiwan,
again against incredible cultural and political odds.

Professor Saifuddin Soz, the Minister of Environment and Forests, generously
took time off from his election campaign in Srinagar to fly down to Delhi
for a few hours in order to inaugurate the ACA General Assembly on the
morning of Monday, 23rd February. The inauguration was also attended by a
number of senior wildlife officers from the Government of India, and
representatives from both Delhi-based and field-based Indian wildlife NGOs.=
=20

At the end of the General Assembly, ACA issued five Resolutions addressed to
the CITES Standing Committee which is meeting in London from 2nd to 6th
March. The Resolutions will be presented at the meeting by WPSI=92s Vice
President, Mr Ashok Kumar. As they cover important issues on CITES and
international wildlife trade, we are taking the liberty of copying the
resolutions in full:
=20
ACA Resolution GA 3.1
ASIAN CONSERVATION ALLIANCE (ACA)

The Asian Conservation Alliance (ACA) informs the CITES Standing Committee
that ACA was established during the Ninth CITES Conference of Parties held
in November 1994. ACA is a network for the conservation of wild species from
the view point of the Asian region. One of the most important objectives and
activities of ACA is to promote the implementation and enforcement of CITES
in range and consumer countries of Asia, particularly of Asian species
listed in Appendix-I.

That the task or function of ACA is reflected in the line-up of its members
which comprise of both range states and consumer countries. ACA focuses on
promoting effective enforcement in range states and the control and
reduction of demand for wildlife products in consumer countries.

Informs the CITES Standing Committee that ACA has Member NGOs from six Asian
countries, viz. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Russia and India, and
that additional members from range and consumer countries in Asia are
expected to join ACA in the near future.

Therefore the Third Asian Conservation Alliance General Assembly held in New
Delhi on 23-24 February 1998 requests the CITES Standing Committee to:=20

a) acknowledge ACA as a coalition of Asian NGOs, and=20

b) consider submissions made by ACA in the deliberations for the forthcoming
Eleventh Conference of Parties to be held in Indonesia.
=09
ACA Resolution GA 3.2
CONTROL OF TRADE IN TIGER DERIVATIVES

Acknowledging that CITES Resolution Conf. 9.13 and its update at COP10 was a
positive step towards tiger conservation.

Noting that Resolution 9.13 and its update at COP10 urged Parties and
non-Parties to consider using national measures to facilitate implementation
of CITES such as voluntary prohibition of internal trade in tiger and tiger
parts and tiger derivatives.

Further observing that the implementation of this Resolution in a number of
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) consuming countries has been less than
satisfactory. In particular Japan, which is one of the biggest consumer
countries of tiger products through use of  TCM containing tiger parts.
During the period 1990-1993, Japan imported 57,566 kg and another 68,747
items of tiger bone pills from China. Though the Japanese Government insists
that there has been no official import of tiger products since April 1993
and that there is just a slight stockpile in Japan at present, it is
believed that there still exists a market of considerable scale. The
evidence is shown in the fact that tiger bone medicine including tiger bone
wine and other items is still sold widely in the Japanese market. In
addition, a survey by the Government revealed that 2.9% of those that
answered the questionnaire had experienced the use of TCM containing tiger
parts.

Noting that Japan still has no legislation to even regulate the domestic
trade of tiger bone and TCM containing tiger bone, although other consumer
countries including China, Korea and Taiwan have prohibited trade in all
tiger parts and derivatives.

Further observing that Japan's legal domestic trade in tiger parts may in
itself form an incentive for poaching and illegal international trade in
tiger parts. There is no doubt that there exists considerable demand of
tiger medicine in Japan and that this has a direct impact on conservation
effort in India and other range states of tiger. A ban on all domestic trade
in tiger bone medicine in Japan is essential to make conservation effort in
range states effective.

Noting that TCM containing or said to contain tiger derivatives is still
available in USA, Canada, Australia and possibly in other countries
including the European Union.

Expressing concern that illegal manufacture of TCM containing or said to
contain tiger derivatives and smuggling of these products is continuing, and
adequate steps have not been taken to locate these manufacturing facilities
and smuggling routes.

Observing that the use of TCM containing tiger derivatives continues to be
an important reason for the decline of tiger in range countries.

Noting that at a TCM conference held in Hong Kong in November 1997 by
TRAFFIC-East Asia, the TCM community resolved to use substitutes of tiger
bones, and while ACA welcomes this development, its effect in the market
place needs monitoring.

Therefore the Third Asian Conservation Alliance General Assembly held in New
Delhi on 23-24 February 1998 requests the CITES Standing Committee to:=20

a) investigate with the assistance of INTERPOL and other suitable agencies
the location of illegal facilities manufacturing TCM containing or said to
contain tiger derivatives and smuggling routes.=20

b) ask Parties and non-Parties to urgently impose voluntary total ban on the
manufacture and sale of TCMs containing or said to contain tiger=
 derivatives.=20

c) call upon national governments to take steps to assist TCM practitioners
and businessmen dealing with TCM containing tiger bones to substitute tiger
bones and compensate them monetarily for their job and/or otherwise, and

d) encourage all other measures of inter-state co-operation to promote
in-situ conservation of the tiger.=20

ACA Resolution GA 3.3
ELEPHANT

ACA notes that the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is under grave threat
due to poaching throughout its range. In India the past year, i.e. 1997, has
been the worst year for elephant poaching in the last decade and in
particular male tuskers in breeding age have been selectively targeted.
Other range countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos have also
been severely hit by an increase in poaching.

Recognising that the demographic effect of this increase in poaching may not
be immediately apparent but that it will result in skewed male female
ratios; in a worst case scenario, one protected area in India is already
having a male female ratio of 1:100.

Observing that many range states in Asia have not realised the gravity of
this threat and domestic trade in ivory is freely permitted in many range
and non-range states.

Noting with concern that the downlisting of African elephant appears to have
had an effect on the poaching of Asian elephant populations.

Observing that once illegal ivory enters a country it is not possible for a
field enforcement officer to distinguish between Asian and African ivory,
particularly in case of carved or worked articles, and that smuggling of raw
ivory, carvings and hanko blanks in Asian countries has been reported.=20

Therefore the Third Asian Conservation Alliance General Assembly held in New
Delhi on 23-24 February 1998 requests the CITES Standing Committee to:=20

a) carefully evaluate the effect on Asian Elephants of the downlisting of
three populations of African elephants to Appendix II, and take note of
enhanced level of poaching of Asian elephants in 1997 and January 1998.=20

b) recommend to Asian elephant range states to implement an enhanced level
of field control of poaching, and recommend to all Parties and non Parties
to improve control over illegal trade in ivory, and

c) recommend to Parties and non-Parties to register pre-ban stock of raw
ivory and carvings and where appropriate recommend Party and non-Party
states to consider banning or regulating domestic trade in ivory, in
particular Asian ivory.

ACA Resolution GA 3.4
TRADE IN TIBETAN ANTELOPE

Noting that the illegal international trade in shahtoosh and other articles
made from the wool of Tibetan Antelope  (Pantholops hodgsoni) is widespread.
=20
Further noting that there is a continuous decline in the population of this
species over its entire range due to extensive poaching.

Observing that international trade in the wool of this species, and the
decline in the  population is well documented in a number of scientific,
popular and wildlife trade publications, more specifically in a publication
titled "Fashioned For Extinction - An Expos=E9 of the Shahtoosh Trade".

Therefore the Third Asian Conservation Alliance General Assembly held in New
Delhi on 23-24 February 1998 requests the CITES Standing Committee to:=20

a) call upon range and consumer states to enhance enforcement actions to
curb poaching and illegal international trade of this species.

b) urge India to take appropriate steps to stop the manufacture of shawls
and other garments made from the wool of this species.

ACA Resolution GA 3.5
NGO PARTICIPATION [IN CITES]

Recalling that Article 11, Item 7, guarantees observers the right to
participate.

Noting that during the session of the downlisting proposal of three
populations of the African elephant at the Tenth CITES Conference of Parties
in June 1997, observers were not given any opportunity to express their
opinion or give expert advise to the delegates.

Observing that a number of NGOs possess substantial scientific, trade, legal
and other information that has a direct bearing on the status of a species
in international trade, and that this information is of value to country
delegations that attend CITES Conference of Parties.

Noting that the delegation from Germany pointed out that valuable statements
by observers had been eliminated and that it was necessary to distribute
more time for the session of Committee I.
                                            =20
Therefore the Third Asian Conservation Alliance General Assembly held in New
Delhi on 23-24 February 1998 requests the CITES Standing Committee to:=20

a) assess the proceedings of the COP10 session on the downlisting proposal
of three populations of the African elephant according to Article 11, Item=
 7.

b) review how to distribute time for debate in each session in order to
provide adequate opportunity to make presentations in plenary sessions,
committees, and other sessions at the next COP. All Parties and observers
who participated in COP10 should be informed of the process and requested to
submit their opinion. The results of this review should be reported at=
 COP11.

c) furthermore, allow NGOs to observe and give opinions at CITES Standing
Committee meetings.

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

WILDLIFE PROTECTION SOCIETY OF INDIA
Thapar House, 124 Janpath, New Delhi 110001, India
Email: blue@nda.vsnl.net.in
       wpsi.wildlife@gems.vsnl.net.in
      =20