The Parrot Breeders Association of Southern Africa (PASA) is delighted to announce that Guy van Zyl and Antonie Meiring will represent South African aviculture at the 34th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee (AC34) in Geneva, Switzerland, from 13–17 July 2026. This important gathering brings together scientific experts, governments, and observer organizations from across the globe to discuss wildlife trade, conservation, and compliance.
Understanding the CITES Animals Committee
The CITES Animals Committee is responsible for providing scientific and technical guidance on international wildlife trade. A major topic this year is the Review of Trade in Captive-Bred Species. It’s crucial to highlight that this is not about up-listing. Instead, the review seeks to identify potential compliance issues in the captive-bred trade and decide if further investigation is warranted.
From around 400 species/country combinations flagged, only 20 cases will be chosen for further review. South Africa has 50 exported parrot species identified by the review methodology:
- 41 are classified by the IUCN as Least Concern
- 4 are Near Threatened
- 2 are Vulnerable
- 3 are Endangered
PASA’s Concerns and Actions
PASA has expressed significant concerns about the methodology used to flag these species. Many flagged species were legally imported into South Africa decades ago from both range and non-range states, and the methodology doesn’t adequately consider the historical establishment of captive populations in the country. Based on available evidence, PASA believes only one of the fifty species should have been flagged for review.
These concerns will be thoroughly presented during the AC34 discussions to ensure decisions are informed by accurate scientific evidence and historical records. PASA is working with SANBI to gather historical information on species established in South African aviculture before CITES implementation in 1975 or before all parrots were included under CITES in 1981.
In the coming weeks, PASA will seek assistance from breeders, especially those with extensive experience, to provide historical records that can reinforce South Africa’s evidence base.
Ensuring Balanced Conservation Decisions
The aim of this effort is to ensure conservation decisions are:
- Science-based
- Historically accurate
- Fair to responsible breeders
- Supportive of legal, sustainable captive breeding
We wish Guy van Zyl and Antonie Meiring every success in Geneva and thank them for their dedication to representing South African aviculture on the international stage.
🔗 Learn more about AC34: 34th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee
🔗 CITES Non-Commercial Registration information: CITES Non-Commercial Registration