FAO and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are co-organising the Online Workshops on Legal Acquisition Findings for trade in CITES tree species from the Lower Mekong Region (LMR) on 18-19 May 2021 and on Automated CITES permit management for the LMR on 25-26 May 2021. 

Objectives of these workshop are :   • Provide guidance on making legal acquisition findings (LAF) for timber • Provide guidance on identifying, discussing and refining national procedures for LAF • Raise awareness on the benefits of and requirements for using the automated permitting systems • Explore interests of Parties in the region towards the implementation of national eCITES solutions, including the eCITES BaseSolution

Workshop’s participants are representatives of CITES Management Authorities as well as other relevant representatives of Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam to discuss opportunities towards an enhanced CITES permit management.

The two workshops are organized in the framework of the UN-REDD initiative for Sustainable Forest Trade in the Lower Mekong funded by the Government of Norway and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UN Environment (UNEP).