Publication

The topics covered during the workshop addressed conservation, management, and enforcement needs. The workshop was conducted by holding specific sessions focusing on CITES Appendix II species, turtle life-histories, and discussions about non-detriment findings (NDFs), sustainable trade, sustainable harvest, captive breeding (including farming and ranching), and law enforcement. Participants from Canada, Mexico, and the United States sought to explain and understand how each country addressed trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles, in the context of CITES, with the overall goal of increasing trinational cooperation to support the sustainable trade of twelve species identified as priority species in Action Plan for North America: Sustainable Trade in Turtles and Tortoises. As part of this workshop, the participants visited the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Wildlife Inspection offices at the Port of Miami to learn methodologies and challenges associated with wildlife trade and enforcement. A closed-door enforcement session allowed confidential sharing of information among participants from the three countries who have enforcement responsibilities. Although the workshop focused on identifying how legal and sustainable trade can be facilitated and promoted under CITES, awareness of the magnitude of the illegal trade that is occurring was also discussed. Workshop participants outlined action items that may help promote sustainable legal trade, and also outlined suggestions and recommendations for addressing illegal trade. This workshop report includes information compiled by the facilitator prior or during the workshop to support discussions and is included in this report as reference.