ANSAB presents in ‘Orientation on CITES law’ workshop

Mr. Puspa L. Ghimire, ANSAB’s Programs Director, presented on “Challenges in international trade of CITES listed species – A case of Jatamansi from Nepal” during a CITES orientation workshop organized by the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation on April 19, 2022. The workshop was organized to inform the Divisional Forest Officers of the Bagmati Province of Nepal on CITES laws, current challenges and the impacts on conservation and trade of CITES listed commercially important NTFPs/MAPs species.

The presentation focused on i) current context, esp. on the sustainability of Jatamansi with lack of quantitative studies, ii) activities and efforts from the Government for CITES implementation in the country, and from ANSAB to facilitate sustainable harvesting and trading of the CITES listed species, iii) current challenges, mainly on the policy contradictions, robust inventory method for quota fixation, communication with international agencies to regulate trade, and trade traceability of the CITES listed species, and iv) the ways forward to address those challenges. The workshop brought together 32 participants, including the Director Generals of the Department of Forest and Soil Conservation and Department of Plant Resources, Divisional Forest Officers from the 13 districts of the Bagmati Province, and national level processing and trading companies.

This workshop was a part of the regular annual program of the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, the CITES management authority for flora under the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Government of Nepal.

ANSAB implemented ‘Succeeding with CITES: Sustainable and equitable Jatamansi trade from Nepal’ and is currently implementing ‘Himalayan plants for people: Sustainable trade for biodiversity and development’ projects with funding from the UK Government through Darwin Initiative, in partnership with TRAFFIC and with endorsement from the Ministry of Forests and Environment. These projects have worked closely with the Government of Nepal for the effective implementation of CITES in the country.