Implementation report

    

Each Party is required to submit an implementation report on legislative, regulatory and administrative measures taken to enforce the Convention. Formerly known as the biennial report, the implementation report is mandatory, but not subject to compliance procedures. Past biennial and implementation reports can be found here.

Provisions of the Convention

  • Article VIII - Measures to be Taken by the Parties, paragraphs 7 and 8

    • 7. Each Party shall prepare periodic reports on its implementation of the present Convention and shall transmit to the Secretariat:
      (a) an annual report containing a summary of the information specified in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 6 of this Article; and
      (b) a biennial report on legislative, regulatory and administrative measures taken to enforce the provisions of the present Convention.

    • 8. The information referred to in paragraph 7 of this Article shall be available to the public where this is not inconsistent with the law of the Party concerned.

Resolutions

How to submit an implementation report?

The deadline for submission of the implementation report is one year before each meeting of the Conference of the Parties (see Resolution Conf. 11.17, paragraph 2). To reflect the three-year cycle between the meetings, the implementation report covering 2018-2020 is due on 5 March 2021 (see Notification to the Parties No. 2021/020 of 12 February 2021). The Secretariat understands that the change in deadline might cause problems for certain Parties to submit the reports on time but, it would appreciate receiving the reports as soon as possible in order to facilitate the analysis of the data submitted before COP19.

Parties are encouraged to use this format. Reports should be sent to [email protected], copy to [email protected].

The Secretariat is currently working to make available an online version of the implementation report in cooperation with UNEP-WCMC.

How will the data be used?

Data from the implementation reports will be made available to the public in accordance with the Convention. The data will be used to measure progress with the CITES Strategic Vision 2008-2020. See Revised set of indicators to measure progress with the CITES Strategic Vision 2008-2020 adopted at the 66th meeting of the Standing Committee.

The CITES Strategic Vision objectives have also been mapped against the Aichi Biodiversity Targets established in the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. See Revised mapping of the CITES Strategic Vision 2008-2020 objectives and the Aichi Targets in the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 adopted at the 66th meeting of the Standing Committee.

Past biennial reports can be found here.

Why are implementation reports important?

Implementation reports provide an opportunity for Parties to share information regarding their overall implementation of the Convention, including their progress in the development and application of laws and regulations, administrative procedures, economic and social incentives and wildlife trade policies. Such reports may contain summaries of national compliance and enforcement efforts (e.g. awareness-raising, training, monitoring, inspections, etc.).

At the national level, implementation reports may serve as a tool for self-assessment through which Parties can identify achievements, significant developments or trends, gaps or problems and possible solutions. At the international level, the comparison and synthesis of information in implementation reports can support substantive and procedural decision-making by the Conference of the Parties and various subsidiary bodies.