VZCZCXRO9024
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHFR #0146 0391454
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081454Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8271
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS PARIS 000146
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KSCA CITES AORC UNEP
SUBJECT: French Response to US CITES COP 15 PROPOSALS
REF: a) STATE 6668 B) STATE 10014
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On February 4, the French Ministry of Foreign
Affairs told us that France agrees with the U.S. proposal on coral
and shark, opposes the proposal on bobcat (because of look-alike
concerns) and is still considering its position on polar bears. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) On February 4, Pascal Sliwanski, Deputy Director of the
Natural Resources and Biodiversity Division, provided ESTH Counselor
with an inter-ministerial response to ref A's demarche. France
agrees with the U.S. proposal on listing the family Coralliidae in
CITES Appendix II at CoP15 as necessary to prevent over
exploitation.
3. (U) Sharks: France also shares the USG's concern. Listing
sharks under CITES Appendix II is a common goal at CoP15 as
regulating international trade will help prevent over exploitation.
(Ref B's demarche on the Manila shark meeting was provided to
Sliwanski and to the Environment, and the Agriculture and Fisheries
Ministries.)
4. (U) Bobcat: France opposes deleting bobcats (Lynx rufus) from
Appendix II because of possible harm to the protected look-alike
species of Eurasian and Iberian Lynx.
5. (SBU) Polar Bears: France is still discussing the U.S. proposal
with its scientists and policy makers.
RIVKIN