CITES National Ivory Action Plans

CITES national ivory action plans (NIAPs) are a practical tool that is being used by the Convention in a number of its member States, identified as 'Category A Parties' *, 'Category B Parties' ** and 'Category C Parties' ***, to strengthen their controls of the trade in ivory and ivory markets, and help combat the illegal trade in ivory. These NIAPs are developed in compliance with recommendations made by the CITES Standing Committee.

Each plan outlines the urgent measures that a CITES Party commits to deliver – including legislative, enforcement and public awareness actions as required – along with specified time frames and milestones for implementation.

While the plans follow a common formula of actions, timeframes and milestones, each national ivory action plan is unique. A plan should identify the actions that are of highest priority for a particular Party to help combat the illegal ivory trade, depending upon the Party’s own circumstances including its capacity-building needs, the extent of available resources, and the scale and nature of illegal trade and whether the Party is a source, transit or destination State for illegal ivory.
 
 
   *Category A Parties consist of Parties most affected by the illegal trade in ivory
 **Category B Parties consist of Parties markedly affected by the illegal trade in ivory
***Category C Parties consist of Parties affected by the illegal trade in ivory

Resolutions / Decisions

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Category A Parties *

  • China** and Hong Kong SAR
  • Kenya**
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore**
  • Togo
  • Uganda**
  • United Republic of Tanzania**
  • Viet Nam

Introduction

NIAPs and Progress reports

*As identified by ETIS Analysis
*Category A Parties consist of Parties most affected by the illegal trade in ivory 

**Parties currently not participating in NIAP Process

Reports and Notifications by the CITES Secretariat

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Category B Parties *

  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Congo
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Nigeria
  • South Africa**
  • Sri Lanka**
  • Thailand**

Introduction

NIAPs and Progress reports

*As identified by ETIS Analysis
*Category B Parties consist of Parties markedly affected by the illegal trade in ivory
**Parties currently not participating in NIAP Process

Tools and Resources

The Guidelines, adopted by the 17th meeting of the Conference of Parties to CITES are available as  Annex 3 to Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev.17) on Trade in elephant specimens

The Guidelines set out the Process in five steps:

Step 1: Identification of Parties to participate in the National Ivory Action Plans Process...
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Category C Parties *

  • Angola
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Egypt
  • Japan**
  • Lao People’s Democratic Republic
  • Mozambique
  • Philippines**
  • Qatar
  • United Arab Emirates**

Introduction

NIAPs and Progress reports

*As identified by ETIS Analysis
*Category C Parties consist of Parties  affected by the illegal trade in ivory
**Parties currently not participating in NIAP Process

Parties of Categories A, B and C

 

Map legend

  Category A Parties*
 
Category B Parties**
  Category C Parties***

* Category A Parties consist of Parties most affected by the illegal trade in ivory 

** Category B Parties consist of Parties markedly affected by the illegal trade in ivory

*** Category C Parties consist of Parties  affected by the illegal trade in ivory

Further information