BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CITES IMPLEMENTATION IN SERBIA

1. Milivoje KrvavacInstitute for Nature Conservation of SerbiaZlata PavlovicProvincial Secretariat for Environmental Protection (CITES focal point)Group for CITES implementationMinistry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CITES IMPLEMENTATION IN SERBIA

2. Republic of Serbia • Population (2011): 9.024.734 • Teritory: 88,361 km2 • GDP per capita: 10,830 USD • CITES ratification: 2001 • CITES MA : Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection

3. NATIONAL CITES AUTHORITIES IN SERBIA • Management Authority:Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection – Group for CITES implementation (currently only 2 people employed) • Scientific Authorities : ZZPS, PZZP, Biol. Fakultet, Prirodnjački muzej, IBIS • Enfrocement authorities (with direct or indirect CITES enforcement competences): Republic and Provintial Environmental Inspectorate, Customs, Border Police, Criminal Investigation Police, Border Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection

4. Harmonization of national legislation with respect to wildlife trade – Serbia on the road to EU The control regime with respect to transboundary movement and trade in protected species in Serbia is more strict than that prescribed by the CITES Convention. In line with the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations, Serbia has harmonized most of its national legislation with the EU WTR provisions and species lists, including establishing internal possession and trade control. Even though the national legislation has in large part been harmonized, certain parts of the national legislation need revision (especially regarding sanctioning offences and regulating the zero year for specimen possession.

5. Illegal trade with protected species, their parts and derivatives is among the top 5 illegal activities on the global level with respect to illegal revenue, right after illegal trade in narcotics and weapons Articles from Criminal Code used in sanctioning wildlife crime Art. 243 – Illegal trade Art. 265 – Destruction, damage, import/export of protected species Art. 269- Killing and torturing animals Art. 276 – Illegal hunting Art. 346- Organizing for the purpose of committing criminal activities Any Law, as well as an international agreement, is worth only as much as it’s practical implementation

6. CITES in Serbia : Internal cooperation Courts: (Administrative,Criminal Apeals) CITES Scientific Autorities Prosecutors Border and Criminal Police Environmental Inspectors NCB INTERPOL in Serbia Group for CITES implementation Customs Border Vet and Phyto Inspection ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS RESCUE CENTERS

7. International cooperation • Serbian CITES focal point has been participating in the EU Enforcement Group meetings from late 2011 • Serbian CITES MA and enforcement have EUTWIX access, as wellas CIRCA ABC (CITES fp)

8. 2010 September 2010. "Nikola Tesla" airport, Belgrade Smuggling 22 specimens of toucans and aracari from UAE.

9. June 2012. 126 specimens CITES II. Presevo, border with Kosovo province. Testudo graeca Testudo marginata 2012 December 2012. 1327 specimens of Emys orbicularis. Non CITES but strictly protected in Serbia - smuggler escaped

10. April 2012. shipment of 50 specimens of herpetofauna in personal suitcase...CITES and non CITES species - 11 poisonus. 2012 November 2012. Nikola Tesla Airport 2 specimens of Panthera pardus. CITES I October 2012. border with Hungary. 6 Makak (Macaca sylvanus) monkey. Private car.

11. 2012 • November 2012, Belgrade. 28 snake species (all poisonous - 25 deadly)

12. 2013 • Belgrade, 28.06.2012 – 2 parrots Amazona leucocephala (CITES I) Hungarian border, 30.06.2012 – 250 parots (CITES II i non-CITES), Hungarian border: Horgoš, 12.07.2012 – Ara hybrid (CITES II), Nemačku without CITES allowance • Hungarian border: Horgoš, 11.08.2012 – 11 parrots juvenile (CITES II) hidden in bags.

13. Bački Petrovac 06.03.2014: Primolius maraca (CITES I) Carina: Beograd 20.03.2014: Phyton skin bag (CITES II ) 2014 24.03.2014 Three brown bear juveniles (CITES II )

14. Challenges for sucessful CITES implementation in Serbia • Small number of cases of smuggling is discovered: success depends largely on the level of awareness, training and alertness of the enforcement officers • Sanctions are often not sufficiently stringent to deter illegal widlife trade and smuggling attempts as judges (and often prosecutors) are not aware enough of the adverse effects of these illegal activities • Certain legislative gaps with regards to sanctions further impede adequate sanctioning and CITES enforcement • Processes with illegal wildlife trade sanctioning take too long, which is a problem especially with live specimens • Seizing and confiscating live animals presents a special challange from both financial and infrastructural aspects • Serious understaffing – for both administrative and enforcement presents a huge problem, as well as providing adequate state funding for CITES implementation

15. Project: SR/2012/IB/EN/01TWL CITES Enforcement trainings 7 workshops for border control officers (covering all borders) 2 workshops for judges and proescutors 1 training for trainers 1 workshop for internal controls 1 workshop for live animal confiscations 1 study visit

16. Project developed by: SERBIAN CITES MA Project financed by: EU (~250,000 EUR) Project duration: 6 months More than 500 different people trained in CITES Customs, Border police, Criminal Investigation Police, Env. Inspectors, Prosecutors, Judges, Vets, Zoos

17. Serbian CITES MA conducts trainings in cooperation with national and foreign experts with many years of CITES theoretical and practical experience

18. Thank you for your attention! Group for CITES implementation office@cites.gov.rs +381-11-7155-219