Decisions 13.11 to 17

Improving regional communication and representation

Directed to Parties

13.11
The Parties shall provide to the Secretariat by 1 April 2005 a contact focal point for the Animals, Plants and Nomenclature Committees, including email, telephone and fax details. This information will be available on the CITES website.

Directed to the Animals, Plants and Nomenclature Committees

13.12
The Animals, Plants and Nomenclature Committees shall review at their meetings the conditions under which their members and alternate members perform their duties to ensure continuity and effective regional representation, and report their findings to the Standing Committee.

13.13 The Plants and Animals Committees shall form a joint email working group comprising two representatives of each Committee and an appointed chairman to develop a manual for regional representatives in 2005 that explains the roles and duties of the representatives, provides practical advice on how to accomplish the mandate, is applicable under different cultural conditions, and contains information for the Management and Scientific Authorities of Parties to explain the role and duties of regional representatives, and the relevant obligations by Parties towards regional representatives. External funding is to be sought for printing of the manual.

Directed to the Secretariat

13.14 The Secretariat shall ensure that any vacancies in the Animals, Plants and Nomenclature Committees are brought immediately to the attention of the Standing Committee, in order to fill the vacancies as soon as possible.

13.15
The Secretariat shall publish on the CITES website forthcoming deadlines relevant to the work of the Animals, Plants and Nomenclature Committees.

13.16 The Secretariat shall explore funding options to ensure that the regional representatives to the Animals and Plants Committees and the Co-Chairmen of the Nomenclature Committee from developing countries and countries with economies in transition can attend the meetings of the Conference of the Parties and fully participate in the committee work.

13.17 The Secretariat shall look for funding to support the holding of regional meetings in association with regional seminars or other related meetings organized by the Secretariat. The regional representatives should prepare the agenda and chair the meeting.

13.14	The Secretariat shall ensure that any vacancies in the Animals, Plants and Nomenclature Committees are brought immediately to the attention of the Standing Committee, in order to fill the vacancies as soon as possible.
13.15	The Secretariat shall publish on the CITES website forthcoming deadlines relevant to the work of the Animals, Plants and Nomenclature Committees.
13.16	The Secretariat shall explore funding options to ensure that the regional representatives to the Animals and Plants Committees and the Co-Chairmen of the Nomenclature Committee from developing countries and countries with economies in transition can attend the meetings of the Conference of the Parties and fully participate in the committee work.
13.17	The Secretariat shall look for funding to support the holding of regional meetings in association with regional seminars or other related meetings organized by the Secretariat. The regional representatives should prepare the agenda and chair the meeting.