Page 6 - DIVA 1 2023

international international
Interview with CITES Secretary-General
ivonne higuero
You might remember Ms Ivonne Higuero from from P3 to D2, at UNEP in Nairobi and Geneva
the time she was the Director of the Economic as well as UNECE. My career focus has been
Cooperation and Trade Division for the United on natural resource economics and policy,
Nations Economic Commission for Europe. ecosystems and biodiversity conservation and
In 2018, she was appointed to the position sustainable use and environment and trade. My
of Secretary General of the Convention on work experience of almost three decades, my
International Trade in Endangered Species biology, economics, and trade background and
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It is not former position as focal point for a number of
an easy job to defend Endangered Species of multilateral environmental agreements have
Wild Fauna and Flora in these days. During provided me with the knowledge and experience
the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 she noted necessary to lead the work of the Secretariat as
that illegal wildlife trade not only helps to CITES Secretary-General. I am honoured to
destroy habitats, but that these habitats create be the first woman and the first person from a
a safety barrier for humans that can prevent developing country selected as CITES Secretary-
pathogens from animals passing themselves on General and I am honoured and fortunate to
to people. We were curious to learn more about work with such an effective convention and with
her work so we went knocking on her door. The enthusiastic team members.
floor is yours Secretary-General Ms Higuero.
You are the Secretary General of the
Could you please tell us a little about your Convention on International Trade in
background? Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
I am a Panamanian national with an (CITES). What exactly do you do, and how do
undergraduate degree in biology from the you and your organization decide if a species
University of Missouri and a master’s degree is endangered?
in natural resource economics and policy from The Secretary-General is the head of the CITES
Duke University in the United States. I have Secretariat, which services the 184 signatory
worked for the United Nations for 28 years, Parties, including the European Union. It is
w w w. d i va i n t e r n at i o n a l . c h
Photos : Copyright Sanjay Acharya
Aletsch glacier the Parties, at their meetings every 2-3 years, people do not seem to care. What are the
in Swiss Alps, called the Conference of the Parties, and implications of this, and what can be done to
shrinking rapidly using the best scientific evidence, who decide remedy it?
owing to the if a plant or animal species is threatened by We are seeing an alarming drop in biodiversity
climate crisis international trade and the level of protection and one in eight of all animal and plant species
required so their survival in the wild is not are threatened with extinction. There are many
at risk. So, through this global treaty, almost threats to wildlife, of which overexploitation
all the countries of the world have agreed to and illegal wildlife trade are main ones. It’s a
be bound to ensure the international wildlife worrying picture but I believe the great majority
trade is sustainable, legal and traceable. of people do care. More and more I am seeing
evidence at the international and national
As Secretary-General, I ensure the Parties levels of groups of people concerned about the
receive the best services possible from the survival of wild plants and animals. Let me give
Secretariat and oversee the implementation of the example of the youth. We are celebrating
our programme of work as decided by the Parties World Wildlife Day on 3 March and around
at their CoP. We provide technical assistance, the world young people are expressing their
capacity-building and advice to support fear of a world without wildlife – for example,
the Parties to implement the Convention in Singapore and Malaysia a group of young
effectively. We prepare the documentation for people are organizing a Southeast-Asia-focused
the governing and scientific bodies’ meetings, symposium and will discuss wildlife trade,
organise and service them. I work with Parties species recovery, and ecosystem restoration.
at all levels to support them in their efforts The youth are our hope for the future, and they
to comply with and enforce the Convention. expect us to address the threats to wildlife. Our
We also work closely with partners, such as World Wildlife Day website, www.wildlifeday.
other multilateral environmental conventions, org, will highlight all the events around the
UN bodies, indigenous peoples and local world on 3 March. There is of course much
communities, intergovernmental organizations, work to be done and we need to continue to
non-governmental organizations, and industry, build capacity and enforce the rules so that
and by joining forces, we support the Parties to the scientific, legal and enforcement tools are
meet their obligations under the Convention used to halt overexploitation, illegal trade and
and achieve its goals. corruption that drives species loss. It will take
a joint effort, with every one of us playing our
We hear from time to time that species are part. That’s actually the theme of this year’s UN
disappearing, but for some strange reason, World Wildlife Day, which CITES organizes.
w w w. d i va i n t e r n at i o n a l . c h