華盛頓公約(瀕危物種貿易公約，CITES)175個締約國的代表們，25日結束了為期兩週的會議，會議中最大的輸家是鯊魚、大西洋黑鮪、珊瑚與北極熊。
以日本與中國為首的幾個國家，推翻了對紅肉ㄚ髻鮫、污斑白眼鮫、大西洋鯖鯊和白斑角鯊等海洋經濟性物種的保育提案。大西洋鯖鯊的保育提案一開始本來被接受，但卻在最後一天的會議中被否決了。
聯合國瀕危物種貿易會議則同意對犀牛、老虎與波紋唇魚(譯者按：屬於隆頭魚科的大型珊瑚礁魚類，為高價食用魚)提供更好的保護。
CITES也將數種全球寵物貿易的物種增列至清單內，包括分布在宏都拉斯與瓜地馬拉，極度瀕危的4種刺尾鬣蜥、中美洲的5種樹蛙、分布於伊朗，極度瀕危的凱薩蠑螈以及稀有的玻利維亞獨角仙。
與會代表們否決了兩項銷售象牙庫存提案，並通過了對使用於香水與化妝品產業的兩種南美芳香樹木的保護。
美國為保護北極熊、大西洋黑鮪，珊瑚及鯊魚的提案則未能獲得支持。
美國談判代表助理內政部長斯特里克蘭(Tom Strickland)說，美國的提案讓國際社會關注到這些物種所面臨的困境。
斯特里克蘭說：「令我印象深刻的是，主辦國卡達的領導人，以及所有阿拉伯國家都對我們提案的全力支持。」
但是許多環保團體對這次會議的結果深感失望。
大洋洲資深運動總監艾里森(David Allison)表示：「看起來你好像只要透過日本，就能買到任何東西，」「放任日本、中國以及其他主要貿易國家的漁業，無限制的開發瀕危海洋生物資源，所得的巨額利潤正壓垮CITES的基礎，讓公約面臨崩潰危機。」
1999年到任，即將離職的CITES秘書長韋斯特克(Willem Wijnstekers)一直擔心，CITES缺乏足夠資金以持續他們的工作。
資金短缺的問題以及堆積如山的工作，正堆在CITES即將接任的秘書長斯坎倫(John Scanlon)桌上。身為律師的澳洲人斯坎倫，曾服務於墨瑞-達令盆地(Murray Darling Basin)委員會、世界水壩委員會顧問以及世界自然保護聯盟(IUCN)環境法案領導人，並於2007年加入聯合國環境規劃署(UNEP)，領導其內部改革小組。
與國際刑警組織新強化後的夥伴關係，是斯坎倫可用來保護CITES所列物種的工具之一。
發生在世界各地組織化的非法野生動物貿易，可能涉及了犯罪集團與幫派，他們擁槍自重，對於傷害那些從事保護手無寸鐵物種工作的森林警衛、狩獵巡護員或是自然保育員是毫不手軟。
斯坎倫將與最近成立的國際打擊野生動物犯罪聯盟合作。這聯盟由CITES秘書處、國際刑警組織、聯合國毒品控制與犯罪預防辦公室、世界銀行以及世界海關組織所組成，正在研議將野生動物保育法的犯罪者繩之以法的工具。
在杜哈會議之中，各國對於對於犀牛問題方面達成共識，同意把重點放在加強執法、培訓人員、增強邊境管控並改善犀牛族群監測計畫。同時提升消費國家如越南對犀牛問題的認知運動，並且掃蕩在日漸增加的盜獵行為與非法貿易背後的組織犯罪集團。
雖然許多保育團體對CITES會議結果感到失望，但仍有懷抱希望的人。
「這次會議之後，成千上萬原本受到國際貿易影響的動物，現在得到了保護。」國際人道關環協會的野生動物主席特萊茨基(Teresa Telecky)說道，「我們對這些結果非常高興。」
IUCN代表團主席邁茵卡(Sue Mainka)說：「CITES第15屆大會(CoP15)突顯了本公約所面臨的挑戰之一是，永續的經營管理那些具有商業價值的物種。」
「不過CoP15所做出的決定仍會促進CITES繼續演進，包括研發新的工具和機制，以提供自然資源永續經營管理所需。那些資源是維持人們經濟發展與生計的基本要素。」
CITES將在2013年於泰國舉辦下一次會議，屆時將對瀕危物種的國際貿易重新予以審議。
Sharks, Atlantic bluefin tuna, corals and polar bears were the losers as delegates from 175 governments today wrapped up their two-week Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES.
Opposition by Japan, China and their allies defeated every proposal to give CITES protection to lucrative marine species including hammerhead sharks, whitetip sharks, porbeagle sharks, and spiny dogfish sharks. A proposal to protect the porbeagle shark was initially accepted, but it was overturned today, during the final day of the meeting.
The United Nations meeting on endangered species trade did agree on better protection for rhinos, tigers, and a fish called the humphead wrasse.
Among the species that gained new CITES protection from the international exotic pet trade are four species of critically endangered spiny-tailed iguanas from Honduras and Guatemala, five species of Central American tree frogs, a critically endangered salamander from Iran known as the Kaiser's newt, and a rare rhinoceros beetle from Bolivia.
Delegates turned down two proposals for sales of elephant ivory stockpiles, and voted to protect two South American trees used in the perfume and cosmetics industries.
The United States' proposals for protection of the polar bear, Atlantic bluefin tuna, corals, and sharks failed to win approval.
Strickland said that the U.S. proposals brought international attention to the difficulties faced by these species.
"I was impressed by the host country Qatar, from their leadership to their support on all of our proposals, which were supported by all the Arab countries too," Strickland said.
But many conservation groups were deeply disappointed in the outcome of the conference.
"It appears that money can buy you anything, just ask Japan," said David Allison, senior campaign director at Oceana. "Under the crushing weight of the vast sums of money gained by unmanaged trade and exploitation of endangered marine species by Japan, China, other major trading countries and the fishing industry, the very foundation of CITES is threatened with collapse."
The lack of sufficient funding for CITES to continue its work has been a constant worry for outgoing CITES Secretary-General Willem Wijnstekers, who has served since 1999.
The funding problems and overwhelming workload of the CITES Secretariat are now on the desk of the incoming Secretary-General John Scanlon. An Australian national and a lawyer, Scanlon served on the Murray Darling Basin Commission, was an advisor to the World Commission on Dams, headed the IUCN's Environmental Law Programme, and joined the United Nations Environment Programme in 2007, where he led the UNEP internal reform team.
A newly strengthened partnership with the international police force INTERPOL will be one of the tools Scanlon can use to protect CITES-listed species.
The organized illegal wildlife trade that takes place around the world can involve criminal gangs, armed with automatic weapons, who do not hesitate to murder the wardens, game scouts or forest guards who work to protect defenseless species.
Scanlon will work with the recently-formed International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime. Made up of the CITES Secretariat, INTERPOL, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the World Bank and the World Customs Organization, the consortium now is creating tools to help bring wildlife criminals to justice.
At the Doha meeting, countries with rhino populations agreed to focus on increasing law enforcement, training of guards, strengthening border controls, improving rhino population monitoring, creating awareness raising campaigns in consumer countries such as Vietnam, and rooting out organized crime syndicates that are behind the increase in poaching and illegal trade.
While many conservation groups were disappointed in the outcome of the CITES meeting, others were more hopeful.
"As a result of this meeting, tens of thousands of individual animals that are affected by international trade each year will now be protected," said Teresa Telecky, director of wildlife for Humane Society International. "We are extremely pleased with these results."
"CITES CoP15 has highlighted the challenges facing this convention as one of the many existing agreements for managing commercially important species sustainably," said Sue Mainka, head of IUCN's delegation.
"However, the decisions taken at CoP15 should stimulate further evolution of CITES including development of tools and mechanisms needed to support efforts to achieve sustainable management of natural resources," she said. "Those resources are fundamental elements of our economy and people's livelihoods."
The next CITES meeting will be held in Thailand in 2013, when protection of endangered species from international trade will be considered anew.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
