© John Birch

The Second Meeting of the Range States of the Joint CITES-CMS African Carnivores Initiative (ACI) will be held from 1 to 4 May 2023 in Entebbe, Uganda. It brings together representatives of all countries that are Range States to one or more of the four species covered by the ACI, i.e., African Lion (Panthera leo), Leopard (P. pardus), Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), and African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus). 

The Programme of Work (POW) for the ACI was approved by the Standing Committees of both CMS and CITES in September 2021.

It incorporates existing conservation strategies or comparable guidelines for the four species covered by the ACI, developed under the auspices of CITES and/or CMS, and Resolutions and Decisions of the Conferences of Parties (COPs) of the two Conventions. It also calls for establishing structures for a sustainable funding mechanism for the ACI POW, as well as structures for the implementation of the POW (including regular Range State Meetings).

The main objective of the meeting in Entebbe is for Range States to discuss the ACI POW and its implementation and prioritization of activities (including an implementation stocktake), conservation issues specific to the species covered by the ACI, and operational matters for the future of the ACI (including its governance, modus operandi, and funding). The meeting outcomes may also feed into CMS COP14 and CITES CoP20. 

The Second Meeting of the ACI Range States will follow up on the First Meeting of the ACI Range States (ACI1) held in Bonn, Germany in 2018 and on the Joint CMS-CITES African Lion Range State Meeting held in Entebbe, Uganda in 2016. 

The meeting is made possible through the generous financial support provided by the European Commission and Switzerland, the Federal Government of Belgium, the Flemish Government and the Government of Germany. 

Online Registration

Code of Conduct

All participants are expected to behave with integrity and respect toward all other persons attending or involved with the Meeting. Discrimination, harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and sexual abuse and exploitation will not be tolerated at the Meeting. Participants are invited to review carefully the Code of Conduct for Events Organised under CMS, which will apply to the Meeting.

Press release: Meeting of all African Range States Results in Agreement on Key Priorities for Iconic African Carnivore Species.