Charge d'Affaires L. Victor  Hurtado

U.S. Embassy Presents Wildlife Trade Workshop in Muscat

March 16, 2009

The U.S. Embassy in Muscat, working with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service, opened a wildlife trade workshop today for government officials from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Office of the Environmental Advisor for the Royal Diwan, Police and Customs and the Environment Society of Oman.  This program, part of the joint U.S.-Oman commitment to strengthening implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), runs through March 18. 

L. Victor Hurtado, Chargé d'Affaires, ad interim, of the U.S. Embassy welcomed workshop participants and highlighted the importance of strengthening CITES capacity in Oman.  "Illegal trade in wildlife is a multi-billion dollar industry that impacts thousands of plant and animal species," he said.  "This unregulated trade threatens the sustainability of some of the region’s most characteristic species, including the Arabian Oryx and the sea turtles found along the Omani coast. The future of Oman’s emerging ecotourism industry depends on the responsible management of these vulnerable animals."

This workshop will enable participants to learn from and interact with representatives from the CITES Secretariat and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Participants will discuss broad-level CITES policies and the day-to-day operations of the Convention.  The workshop topics will cover the CITES Authorities, reporting under the Convention, compliance and enforcement mechanisms, species identification, working with the CITES Secretariat, and participation in the bi-annual conference of the parties.

The U.S. Department of State is funding the workshop through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), which works with governments and people in the Middle East and North Africa to expand economic, political, and educational opportunities. 

The U.S. Department of the Interior's programs provide environmental and technical assistance in support of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) with countries in the region.  These courses are intended to assist governments in strengthening their capacity to regulate trade in wildlife in order to meet commitments enshrined in such agreements. 

The Department of the Interior is the primary conservation agency in the United States.  It manages one-fifth of all land in the United States, including the extensive network of National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and other recreation areas.  The designated CITES authorities for the U.S. are housed in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Working in partnership with Oman, the U.S. Embassy in Muscat supports a range of programs reflecting the deep historic, diplomatic, and economic, bilateral ties between the United States and the Sultanate.  To learn more about U.S.-sponsored educational, cultural, and exchange programming, visit the Embassy's website at http://oman.usembassy.gov.