Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
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Yemen: Houthis' Widespread Detentions of Political Opponents
NEW YORK, Nov. 27 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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Yemen: Houthis' Widespread Detentions of Political Opponents
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(Beirut) - Houthi authorities have detained dozens of political opponents since July 2025, including the leaders of several political parties in Yemen, some of which may amount to enforced disappearances, Human Rights Watch said today.
At least 70 people associated with the Yemeni Congregation for Reform, known as the Islah party, were detained within 24 hours in Dhamar governorate on October 28.
The most recent detentions are
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Nov. 27 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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Yemen: Houthis' Widespread Detentions of Political Opponents
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(Beirut) - Houthi authorities have detained dozens of political opponents since July 2025, including the leaders of several political parties in Yemen, some of which may amount to enforced disappearances, Human Rights Watch said today.
At least 70 people associated with the Yemeni Congregation for Reform, known as the Islah party, were detained within 24 hours in Dhamar governorate on October 28.
The most recent detentions arepart of a wider campaign over the last year and a half, targeting members of civil society, United Nations and nongovernmental organization staff, businesspeople, and even people within the Houthi authorities. At least 59 UN staff are in detention with no access to lawyers and limited, if any, access to their families. Concurrently, Houthis are escalating dubious accusations of espionage against people they have detained, including in a recent unfair trial against 21 individuals in which 17 were sentenced to death. Many of them were charged with espionage without adequate access to due process.
"Rather than addressing the urgent needs of Yemenis in Houthi-controlled territories, the Houthis seem to be detaining anyone they deem a threat to their movement," said Niku Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at Human Rights Watch. "They should immediately release all those arbitrarily detained and shift their focus to protecting the rights and fulfilling the needs of those living in areas under their control."
Human Rights Watch spoke to 13 people, including relatives of the detainees, journalists, and members of civil society who have been following the cases. Human Rights Watch also reviewed documents related to the detentions, including statements made by political parties, official indictments, and lists of detainees.
The Houthis have been detaining individuals affiliated with political opposition parties since their takeover of Sanaa, Yemen's capital, in 2014. However, they have escalated these arrests in the last few months. A spokesperson for Islah, Adnan al-Odaini, told Human Rights Watch that the campaign against their party started after Houthi forces attempted to arrest, and ultimately killed, Sheikh Saleh Hantos, a prominent sheikh in Rayma governorate, on July 1, 2025. The Houthis accused Hantos, a religious scholar in his 70s and a member of Islah, of "adopting stances aligned with the United States and Israel and undermining popular and official activities supporting the Palestinian resistance."
On August 3, Houthi authorities detained Rami Abdulwahab, an official of the Arab Socialist Baath Party. On August 20, the Houthis detained Ghazi al-Ahwal, the secretary general of the General People's Congress, the political party affiliated with former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. On September 25, they detained Aaidh al-Sayadi, deputy secretary of the Yemeni Socialist Party in Dhamar governorate.
Relatives of Abdulwahab and al-Sayadi said that the two men have not been allowed family visits or permitted to appoint lawyers to represent them.
The October 28 detentions in Dhamar brought the total number of Islah party members held to over 200, the party said in a statement. Most of those recently detained were not party officials, but government employees, teachers, and social figures, said Najeeb al-Sheghdari, secretary general of the Musawah Organization for Human Rights and Freedoms.
A son of one of the Islah party detainees told Human Rights Watch that his father was taken from his car by armed masked men in Dhamar in November. He and the families of six other detainees said that the Houthis did not present arrest warrants or communicate where they were taking their relatives. The families do not know the charges against their relatives or their locations and have not been able to communicate with them, which amounts to enforced disappearance.
Human Rights Watch has previously documented cases of Houthis detaining and forcibly disappearing dozens of people due to their political affiliation, including in April 2020, when they detained 25 Islah party members from Dhamar.
In June 2024, the Specialized Criminal Court sentenced 44 people detained in 2020 to death, 16 of them tried in absentia, with 5 others sentenced to prison terms, Musawah reported. None had adequate access to lawyers.
The relative of one of the individuals sentenced to death said that the family had tried to appoint Abdulmajeed Sabra, a prominent lawyer in Sanaa, to his case, but that the judge "refused to give Sabra a copy of the case file and didn't allow him to speak and kept asking him to be silent, and when Sabra objected, the judge ordered him to leave the court." On September 25, 2025, the Houthis stormed Sabra's office in Sanaa and took him to an undisclosed location.
In their 2025 report, the UN Panel of Experts on Yemen stated that "The [Houthis'] Judiciary has been weaponized to suppress dissent and free expression." They further stated that "[t]he Specialized Criminal Prosecution Office in Sana'a has charged hundreds of individuals with treason and espionage." They said that "detainees are often not shown arrest warrants, not presented with formal charges, and denied legal counsel and access to evidence. Many are held for prolonged periods without trial or judicial oversight."
Human Rights Watch and other groups, including the former UN Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen, have documented the Houthis' use of torture to obtain information or confessions.
Arresting a person without a warrant and clear charges is a violation under the Yemeni Criminal Procedures Law, article 132. Interrogating an individual accused of a crime without the presence of their lawyer is a violation of article 181. The law also provides, under article 6, that "any statement proven to have been made by an accused or a witness under the influence of any such acts [torture, inhumane treatment, physical or psychological harm] shall be nullified and disregarded." Detaining a person without a legal basis or, in criminal proceedings, without promptly charging them is a violation of both Yemeni law and international human rights law.
"The Houthis should immediately release all those arbitrarily detained solely for their political affiliations," Jafarnia said. They should also free others arbitrarily detained, including those held for commemorating the September 26 revolution, journalists, lawyers, and dozens of United Nations and civil society staff."
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/11/27/yemen-houthis-widespread-detentions-of-political-opponents
Trump administration to reconsider black lung protection rule, costing more miners' lives
BOONE, North Carolina, Nov. 27 [Category: Sociological] -- Appalachian Voices posted the following news release:
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Trump administration to reconsider black lung protection rule, costing more miners' lives
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CONTACTS: Quenton King, Government Affairs Specialist, quenton@appvoices.org, (304)-579-7366
Yesterday, the Department of Labor and the mining industry filed a status update in the lawsuit related to implementation of the silica dust rule, requesting to indefinitely suspend activities in the case while the DOL undertakes a new "limited" rulemaking to reconsider portions of the rule.
Silica
... Show Full Article
BOONE, North Carolina, Nov. 27 [Category: Sociological] -- Appalachian Voices posted the following news release:
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Trump administration to reconsider black lung protection rule, costing more miners' lives
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CONTACTS: Quenton King, Government Affairs Specialist, quenton@appvoices.org, (304)-579-7366
Yesterday, the Department of Labor and the mining industry filed a status update in the lawsuit related to implementation of the silica dust rule, requesting to indefinitely suspend activities in the case while the DOL undertakes a new "limited" rulemaking to reconsider portions of the rule.
Silicais a significant contributor to the rise in black lung disease in coal miners, and it causes silicosis in other mining occupations. One in five long-tenured coal miners in Central Appalachia has black lung disease, but younger miners are also increasingly being diagnosed with the disease.
After years of advocacy and calls for protections against black lung disease, in April 2024 the Biden administration finalized a rule to reduce miners' exposure to silica dust. The rule was supposed to go into effect in April 2025, and companies would have had at least a year to fully comply. Now, the rule is delayed indefinitely, prolonging the deadly risk to miners' lives.
Statement from Quenton King, Government Affairs Specialist: "Every delay in reducing the amount of silica dust miners are exposed to means more miners becoming sick and dying. Our nation's miners and their families made their voices loud and clear when they protested outside the Department of Labor headquarters in Washington, D.C., in October the silica rule delay is unacceptable and is a broken promise to miners."
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Original text here: https://appvoices.org/2025/11/27/another-silica-rule-delay/
Latest Assessment of Critically Endangered Forest Elephants Sheds New Light on their Numbers and Optimism for Their Future
BRONX, New York, Nov. 27 [Category: Environment] (TNSrpt) -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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Latest Assessment of Critically Endangered Forest Elephants Sheds New Light on their Numbers and Optimism for Their Future
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 27 November 2025 - DNA-based inventory methods have enabled a new assessment of African Forest Elephants ( Loxodonta cyclotis ) populations with improved accuracy. This is the first time the entire species has been assessed since they were recognized as a full species in 2021, separate from their cousins, African
... Show Full Article
BRONX, New York, Nov. 27 [Category: Environment] (TNSrpt) -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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Latest Assessment of Critically Endangered Forest Elephants Sheds New Light on their Numbers and Optimism for Their Future
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 27 November 2025 - DNA-based inventory methods have enabled a new assessment of African Forest Elephants ( Loxodonta cyclotis ) populations with improved accuracy. This is the first time the entire species has been assessed since they were recognized as a full species in 2021, separate from their cousins, AfricanSavanna Elephants ( Loxodonta africana ).
Released at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES Cop20), the 2024 African Forest Elephant Status Report, published by the African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), reveals the most accurate estimation ever made of the number of forest elephants: 135,690 individuals.
The estimate lies between 99.343 and 172.297 with 95% confidence, plus an additional 7,728 to 10,990 elephants based on more tentative 'guesses.' Thanks to a combination of a DNA-based survey technique, a reassessment of older data, and expanded monitoring across the species' range, 94% of all African Forest Elephants counted are now based on reliable estimates, up from 53% in 2016.
The new assessment totals 16% more elephants than the figures published in 2016, due to the improved methods rather than an increase in the number of forest elephants.
Said Dr. Fiona Maisels, WCS scientist and co-author of the assessment:
"These new figures for the whole of the African Forest Elephant population are reassuring, as there are only two sites where major declines took place since 2016. However, we must not be complacent as this critically endangered species declined by 86% between 1984 and 2015, and the sharpest decline was of 62% between 2002 and 2011."
The latest assessment incorporates DNA capture-recapture, a method that first identifies the unique genetic "fingerprints" of individual elephants from dung samples. By comparing initial "captures" with subsequent "recaptures," scientists can calculate population size with far greater reliability.
The surveys show that Gabon, where WCS is supporting a significant effort toward peaceful Human-Elephant co-existence, boasts 66% of the remaining population of African Forest Elephants, with another 19% in the Republic of Congo. The remaining populations are scattered over Africa.
Said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General:
"This report provides the most accurate picture of elusive African forest elephant populations to date. It shows us that conservation action is working for these iconic animals, which are crucial forest 'gardeners,' essential for tree seed dispersal. With this new data, we have an unprecedented opportunity to focus conservation efforts where they are needed most and give the species a real chance to recover."
Although elephant poaching is mostly decreasing since 2018, it remains a threat in West and Central Africa, along with mining operations, infrastructure and agricultural development, which lead to habitat fragmentation and loss.
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations and the input of more than 16,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
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REPORT: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-067-En.pdf
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Original text here: https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/25663/Latest-Assessment-of-Critically-Endangered-Forest-Elephants-Sheds-New-Light-on-their-Numbers-and-Optimism-for-Their-Future.aspx
Chesapeake Plants Have Deep Roots in Indigenous Knowledge
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Nov. 27 -- The Chesapeake Bay Program issued the following news:
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Chesapeake plants have deep roots in Indigenous knowledge
Rappahannock tribal chief shares her wisdom on native plants
By Will Parson
In recent years, many people have discovered the joy of gardening with native plants in order to create backyard habitat for wildlife--seeds for birds and mammals, pollen for bees and stems for a variety of insects. Some have even planted or foraged a favorite edible native treat, like blueberries or ramps. But fewer still might grasp the breadth of uses that Indigenous
... Show Full Article
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Nov. 27 -- The Chesapeake Bay Program issued the following news:
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Chesapeake plants have deep roots in Indigenous knowledge
Rappahannock tribal chief shares her wisdom on native plants
By Will Parson
In recent years, many people have discovered the joy of gardening with native plants in order to create backyard habitat for wildlife--seeds for birds and mammals, pollen for bees and stems for a variety of insects. Some have even planted or foraged a favorite edible native treat, like blueberries or ramps. But fewer still might grasp the breadth of uses that Indigenouspeoples have found for plants of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Since the 1970s, the Native American Ethnobotany database has catalogued nearly 45,000 uses for over 4,000 native plant species, ranging from "drugs, foods, dyes, fibers, and more." The Rappahannock Indian Tribe in Virginia, for example, has 150 uses documented in the database, including edible species as well as many with medicinal value.
"Today, people are seeking that knowledge because they prefer natural ingredients to address the root causes of diseases rather than treating just symptoms and exposing their bodies to man-made chemicals with unknown side effects," said Rappahannock Chief Anne Richardson. According to Richardson, many plants associated with the Rappahannock River "were either keystone food sources, used for medicine, or used for weaving or construction."
Whether you're looking for food, medicine or raw material for a new craft, finding additional uses for your favorite plant species is surprisingly easy. Chances are good that there are several that have been documented. Below are some additional plants and their indigenous uses, to serve as a mere introduction to the important relationship between people and plants in the Chesapeake Bay region.
Wild rice
Found in freshwater wetlands, wild rice is a staple for many tribes in the eastern United States. In places like Jug Bay on Maryland's Patuxent River, the restoration of wild rice has brought waterfowl back to a key stopover on the Atlantic Flyway. And for people, "wild rice has a high content of antioxidants, which protect the body from oxidative stress and prevent chronic diseases." Richardson said. "It is high in proteins for energy, omega-3s and 6s for brain health, and fiber for digestion and controlling blood sugar levels. It also contains B vitamins and an array of essential minerals such as zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, potassium and iron."
Tuckahoe
The plant that gives Tuckahoe State Park its name is more commonly known as arrow arum. Found in wetlands, it provides cover for wildlife and produces drooping pods of large, sticky, floating seeds--known as duck corn for their value to wood ducks and other waterfowl. "Tuckahoe was a staple food source for the tribes," Richardson said. "It was ground into a flour for making bread that contained carbohydrates, proteins, fiber for digestion, and many minerals and vitamins essential to health."
Willow
Perhaps more well-known than other native medicinal plants, it contains the precursor to salicylic acid, found in products from aspirin to acne cream. "Willow, like many other river plants, has been used for medicines to reduce fever, for pain, and as an anti-inflammatory," Richardson said.
Bulrush
Common in wetlands throughout the world, great bulrush grows to eight feet and has seedheads that are a valuable food source for ducks and other waterfowl. It spreads by starchy underground roots that are edible, but its other name--softstem bulrush--hints at another use. According to Richardson, it has been used to weave baskets that could hold water without leaking.
Cattail
Most people can recognize the sausage-shaped female portion of the cattail flower. Lesser known is that the nutrient-packed pollen collected from the male spike just above that sausage can be used like flour for foods such as pancakes. You can also peel back the young shoots of cattail to get an edible portion that tastes like cucumber. Richardson notes that cattails were also woven into mats to cover longhouses, providing insulation and protection from the elements.
There is notable overlap between species with indigenous uses and those used for environmental restoration. The practice of agroforestry is bringing some added value to riparian forest buffers that also produce native crops like American plum, paw paw, persimmon, elderberry, chokeberry and hazelnut. But a typical buffer planted to stabilize a stream might also have a range of species with lesser-known traditional uses, such as tulip poplar (stimulant), black walnut (gastrointestinal aid), eastern red cedar (respiratory aid) or black cherry (cold remedy).
"It's unfortunate that the colonists didn't find value in our Indigenous knowledge," Richardson said. "They could have saved many lives with our medicinal recipes."
The Bay is filled with many other plants that have a history of use by Indigenous communities such as the Rappahannock Indian Tribe. If there are any that stand out to you, let us know in the comments!
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About the author
Will Parson
wparson@chesapeakebay.net
Will produces digital stories for the Chesapeake Bay Program. He studied ecology and evolution at University of California, San Diego. He reported on water and the environment as a graduate student at Ohio University's School of Visual Communication, and worked at newspapers in New England before landing in Maryland.
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Original text here: https://www.chesapeakebay.net/news/blog/chesapeake-plants-have-deep-roots-in-indigenous-knowledge
[Category: Environment]
Canada-Alberta MOU a Disappointing Retreat on Oil & Gas Methane Regulation
NEW YORK, Nov. 27 [Category: Environment] -- The Environmental Defense Fund posted the following news release:
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Canada-Alberta MOU a Disappointing Retreat on Oil & Gas Methane Regulation
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(OTTAWA, ON) The Canadian federal and Alberta governments announced a Memorandum of Understanding today to develop the energy sector. Among other measures, the MOU pledges to "Enter into a methane equivalency agreement on or before April 1, 2026, with a 2035 target date and a 75% reduction target relative to 2014 emissions levels."
Groups who are concerned about the climate and health impacts of methane
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Nov. 27 [Category: Environment] -- The Environmental Defense Fund posted the following news release:
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Canada-Alberta MOU a Disappointing Retreat on Oil & Gas Methane Regulation
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(OTTAWA, ON) The Canadian federal and Alberta governments announced a Memorandum of Understanding today to develop the energy sector. Among other measures, the MOU pledges to "Enter into a methane equivalency agreement on or before April 1, 2026, with a 2035 target date and a 75% reduction target relative to 2014 emissions levels."
Groups who are concerned about the climate and health impacts of methanepollution issued the following statement:
At a time when we need to move faster on climate, it is disappointing to see Canada tapping the brakes.
Oil and gas is responsible for the largest share of Canada's emissions, and it is the industry whose emissions are rising fastest. Methane is the least expensive and easiest way to reduce these emissions at scale. It is extremely disappointing to see that Canada is failing to harvest the lowest-hanging fruit.
What's more, this unnecessary delay will lead to more wasted energy that already totals over $2 billion since the federal methane target was announced, as well as potentially threaten the creation of tens of thousands of jobs in the growing methane mitigation industry.
In 2021, the federal Liberals promised a 75% reduction in oil and gas methane by 2030. After four years of delay in passing the regulation, the government is now proposing yet another five years of delay for its implementation.
It is five years we can't afford to waste, given the dramatic increase in climate-related impacts such as wildfires, floods and drought, as well as an ever-widening gap between what Canada is doing to address climate change and its fair share of the GHG reductions needed.
Background
After 10 years of global leadership on oil and gas methane, this is Canada's first major climb down on its efforts to control this pollutant that's responsible for 30% of emissions that are causing the climate crisis.
The MOU means the federal government is failing to keep up with other jurisdictions on many fronts:
* Mere weeks ago, Canada and several allies (e.g., the UK, Japan, Germany and France) agreed to a near-zero oil and gas methane target, "including clear policies to end routine venting and flaring by 2030 and hold operators accountable." This MOU will likely preclude Canada from meeting this recent commitment.
* BC has committed to meet a near-zero emissions standard by 2035.
* Major U.S. states like New Mexico (2 nd -largest oil producing state, and 4 th -largest gas producer) and Colorado (4 th -largest oil producing state and 8 th -largest gas producer) have had regulations in place for many years that are stronger than Canada's draft 2030 regulation.
* In May 2024, the EU approved new import standards on natural gas for 2030. (This would apply to potential LNG imports from Canada.)
* Asian countries including Japan and South Korea have already taken steps to improve supply chain transparency of methane emissions for LNG exporting countries, signaling a preference for low-emission energy.
* The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) comprised of 12 of the world's largest oil and gas companies that represent more than 40% of global oil and gas production recommitted, in January 2025, to reducing climate emissions, including by pursuing a near-zero methane emissions by 2030.
Delaying methane regulations will stall the many economic benefits that methane reductions produce.
* Canada's draft regulation would have produced 34,000 jobs and recovered billions in energy waste.
* Eighty-one manufacturing firms and 55 service firms provide oil and gas operators across Canada with the equipment and services they need to directly reduce methane emissions. These firms account for 359 employee sites across the country, more than half of which are in Alberta.
* Methane leaks by oil and gas operators across Alberta wasted $671 million in natural gas, costing the provincial government over $120 million in lost royalties and uncollected corporate taxes.
* Methane abatement is among the least expensive options for reducing GHGs at scale for the oil and gas sector. A 75% reduction can be achieved at an average cost of just $11/t-co2-e using today's technologies.
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Original text here: https://www.edf.org/media/canada-alberta-mou-disappointing-retreat-oil-gas-methane-regulation
CRIME DOWN, GUN CARRY UP REFLECTS NATIONAL TREND
BELLEVUE, Washington, Nov. 27 [Category: Political] -- The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms issued the following news release:
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CRIME DOWN, GUN CARRY UP REFLECTS NATIONAL TREND
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BELLEVUE, WA - News outlets in Seattle, Washington have been reporting a decline in gun-related violence this year in surrounding King County, but the announcement overlooks a significant fact which unintentionally derails one of the greatest gun control myths of all time, that more guns equal more violent crime.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, whose national
... Show Full Article
BELLEVUE, Washington, Nov. 27 [Category: Political] -- The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms issued the following news release:
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CRIME DOWN, GUN CARRY UP REFLECTS NATIONAL TREND
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BELLEVUE, WA - News outlets in Seattle, Washington have been reporting a decline in gun-related violence this year in surrounding King County, but the announcement overlooks a significant fact which unintentionally derails one of the greatest gun control myths of all time, that more guns equal more violent crime.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, whose nationalheadquarters is in King County, notes this crime decline has happened while the number of active concealed pistol licenses (CPL) in the county has climbed. It is actually following a national trend, as crime has dropped around the country while gun ownership nationally has increased.
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb noted the irony of these declining crime reports when balanced against the rise in gun ownership and concealed carry, not just locally, but around the country.
"For decades," he observed, "we have seen one gun control myth after another used as excuses to restrict our Second Amendment rights. Yet here we are, when those rights are being gradually restored thanks to strategic court victories, when 29 states have adopted permitless carry laws, when more people own guns and more people are legally carrying them for personal protection, and the data shows violent crime involving guns is declining. Looks like we've been right all along, and the establishment media essentially is confirming it."
For King CountyWashington's most populous and most liberalit is simply a matter of math, Gottlieb said. August ended with 114,826 active carry licenses in the county, and September finished with 115,363 CPLs in circulation. October finished with 115,457 licenses. Nationally, the Crime Prevention Research Center estimates more than 21 million citizens are licensed to carry, and there are even more legally-armed citizens in the 29 states where no permit is required, who are carrying without a "government permission slip."
"Gun sales are continuing steady," Gottlieb added, "which is not surprising, considering reports of police manpower declines in many jurisdictions. In Seattle, there have been two high-profile incidents where legally armed citizens stopped criminals in their tracks this year. Around the country, people are fighting back. Maybe the criminal element is beginning to get the message.
"We're delighted violent crime is on the decline while gun ownership is on the rise," he said. "It demonstrates that responsible armed citizens are not part of the problem, but are part of the solution."
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Original text here: https://ccrkba.org/2025/11/27/crime-down-gun-carry-up-reflects-national-trend/
CITES Parties Miss a Chance to Ensure a Future for Endangered Eels
BRONX, New York, Nov. 27 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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CITES Parties Miss a Chance to Ensure a Future for Endangered Eels
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan - The following statement was released today by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) from CITES CoP20.
Said Dr. Susan Lieberman, WCS Vice President of International Policy:
"WCS is deeply disappointed that Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) failed to support Proposal 35 to list all Anguillid eels, including
... Show Full Article
BRONX, New York, Nov. 27 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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CITES Parties Miss a Chance to Ensure a Future for Endangered Eels
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan - The following statement was released today by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) from CITES CoP20.
Said Dr. Susan Lieberman, WCS Vice President of International Policy:
"WCS is deeply disappointed that Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) failed to support Proposal 35 to list all Anguillid eels, includingthe American eel ( Anguilla rostrata ) on CITES Appendix II at CoP20 in Samarkand. The proposal, submitted by the European Union and its 27 Member States and Panama, was unfortunately defeated today at the CITES meeting. There were strong lobbying interests against this scientifically sound effort to regulate the global eel trade.
"A CITES Appendix II listing would not have banned trade, but it would have ensured that any international trade in eels is legal, sustainable, and traceableproviding critical safeguards for a species whose populations have plummeted to historic lows. Scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that the American eel meets the criteria for such a listing.
"The decision leaves this iconic migratory fishalready threatened by overfishing, illegal trade, habitat fragmentation from dams, pollution, disease, and climate changewithout the international oversight urgently needed to support recovery and prevent further decline.
"The American eel, an iconic species native to North America, including the Bronx River in New York City, is now listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Once abundant across rivers and coastal systems from Maine to Florida and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, American eel populations have plummeted to historic lows.
"WCS has been at the forefront of American eel conservation, conducting pioneering research in New York's Bronx River since 2012. This work has underscored the urgent need for habitat restoration and fish passage improvements.
"As populations of other anguillid eelsincluding Japanese and European eelshave collapsed, demand for American glass eels has surged, with prices exceeding $2,300 per pound and driving illegal and unregulated trade. An Appendix II listing would have strengthened monitoring and helped ensure that international demand does not further imperil the species.
"WCS urges governments to continue advancing science-based policies and international cooperation to conserve the American eel and indeed all anguillid species. The fate of these extraordinary fish reflects the health of our rivers, coasts, and oceansand the consequences of inaction will be felt far beyond their waters."
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Original text here: https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/25662/CITES-Parties-Miss-a-Chance-to-Ensure-a-Future-for-Endangered-Eels.aspx
