Pretoria – Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has conducted an inspection at the Sandton Convention Centre to assess the venue's suitability to host the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) next year.
Minister Molewa was with the Secretary-General of the CITES, John E. Scanlon, on Thursday when she met with officials from the Sandton Convention Centre to discuss areas of mutual interest and preparations for the 17th Conference of Parties to CITES (CITES CoP17).
The meeting was followed by a site inspection at the venue.
“We are very proud to be part of CITES. It is a body based on science and it is possible that if 181 countries were not members of CITES there could have been an extinction of several species without anyone noticing. So we are helping the world to preserve species that could be threatened,” Minister Molewa said.
She said the discussions at CITES CoP17 were expected to see countries debating the plight of the rhino, the threats being faced by the African elephant, pangolin and implementation issues such as coordination of initiatives by Parties that arise from evidence-based information that is tabled for decision-making.
“There are many items on the agenda and we look forward to a rich debate where countries are expected to make decisions on a way forward on matters of interest,” Secretary-General Scanlon said.
The conference, which will be attended by more than 2 000 delegates, is scheduled to take place from 24 September to 2 October 2016.
CITES Cop 17 will be held from 24 September to 2 October 2016. – SAnews.gov.za
