About the COP Decision Search Tool:

The ENTRI Conference of Parties (COP) decision search tool allows the user to search decisions produced by the Parties of the following multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs):

• Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel)
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)
• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
• UN Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD)
• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC)
• Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Kyoto, 1997)
• Vienna Convention to Protect the Ozone Layer (Vienna)
• Montreal Protocol of the Vienna Convention (Montreal)

These MEAs were chosen based on a number of factors, including the number of Parties involved (typically more than 80) and their relative level of activity and global relevance. We update the COP decisions in the database every six months (in December and June).

We have sought in every way to maintain the integrity of the original decision documents. Nevertheless, the primary utility of this tool is in locating hard-to-find decision documents across multiple treaties. Users who need to cite decision texts are encouraged to cut-and-paste the link to the original document location in order to obtain the original decision document from the relevant MEA secretariat Web sites.

It is recommended that users consult the MEA secretariat websites to determine if decisions/resolutions are still in effect. Particularly in the case of CITES, many early decisions have been superseded or annulled by subsequent decisions.

Acknowledgements
We wish to acknowledge the secretariats for the Basel, CBD, CITES, CMS, Ramsar, CCD, FCCC (and Kyoto Protocol), Vienna (and Montreal Protocol) agreements as the source of the decision documents included in the ENTRI COP Decision Search Tool. Without the public provision of this information via their respective Web sites this service could not be possible.