International Stakeholders Gather at CITES CoP18 to Discuss Policies Supporting Both Conservation and International Music Activity

Earlier today at the CITES (Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) Conference of the Parties (CoP18) in Geneva, Switzerland, NAMM hosted a gathering of more than 100 key stakeholders to gain understanding of the conservation efforts and policy complexities facing musicians and musical instrument makers which included CITES management authority officials, conservation organizations, and music industry representatives.

The program included presentation and discussion of ongoing sustainability efforts, the instrument making process and permit procedures, as well as navigating the use of the CITES Musical Instrument Certificate for globally-traveling musicians. Speakers spanned sustainability representatives from musical instrument makers Fender and PRS and remarks on behalf of musicians and performing ensembles from the League of American Orchestras, to conservation organizations including the World Resources Institute and the World Wildlife Fund International and several of the participating management authorities from around the world.

The event brought together not only stakeholders present at the CoP, but also voting delegates to the convention and leading conservation organizations, all collaborating to craft new policies that will support both sustainability and international cultural activity. “The connection between CITES and musical instrument is clearly a subject of great interest. This was a productive beginning to the conversations that will continue through the next two weeks,” said Betty Heywood, NAMM’s director of international affairs.

The gathering took place on the grounds of the CITES CoP18, where 182 international delegations and the European Union are in attendance to strengthen wildlife trade rules. CoP18 includes agenda items related to Dalbergia (Prop. 52 and Inf. Doc. 26), Cedrela (Prop. 57 and Inf. Doc. 27), Woolly Mammoth (Prop. 13 and Inf. Doc. 25), and the Musical Instrument Certificate (Doc. 53 and Doc. 56 and Inf. Doc. 23). The CoP18 is expected to consider new policies on each agenda item. Additional details on the outcome of the CITES proposals listed above will be provided in a short media alert once decisions are reached at the CoP18.

The luncheon was co-sponsored by the following organizations: American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada; ANAFIMA - Brazilian Music Industry Association; The Argentinian Association of Musical Instruments Manufacture; Association of British Orchestras; The Australian Music Association; Bundesverband der deutschen Musikinstrumentenhersteller e.V.; C.F. Martin & Co.; Collings Guitars; Confederation of European Music Industries (CAFIM); Dismamusica; Fender Musical Instruments Corporation; ForestBased Solutions, LLC; French Musical Instrument Organisation (CSFI); International Alliance of Violin and Bow Makers for Endangered Species; International Association of Violin and Bow Makers; International Federation of Musicians; International Wood Products Association; Japan Musical Instruments Association; League of American Orchestras; Live Performance Australia; Madinter Trade; Music Industries Association; National Association of Music Merchants; Orchestras Canada; Paul Reed Smith; PEARLE*; The Recording Academy; The SOMM - Society of Music Merchants e. V.; Symphony Services Australia; and Taylor Guitars.

Photo caption: Left to Right: David Eynck, Paul Reed Smith Guitars; Cindy Squires, International Wood Products Association; Scott Paul, Taylor Guitars; Heather Noonan, League of American Orchestras; Frank Untermyer, C.F. Martin & Co., Inc.; Betty Heywood, NAMM; Jacques Carbonneaux, French Musical Instrument Organization; Fanny Reyre, French Musical Instrument Organization; Michael Jousserand, Confederation of European Music Industries; Rob Garner, Forest Based Solutions; John Bennett, International Association of Violin and Bow Makers; and, Mike Bayer, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.