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♤ In the early 1960s, international discussion began focusing on the rate at which the world’s wild animals and plants were being threatened by unregulated international trade.
♤ The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments entered into force in 1975, and became the only treaty to ensure that international trade in plants and animals does not threaten their survival in the wild.
♤ Currently 176 countries are Parties to CITES.
♤ CITES is administered through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). A Secretariat, located in Geneva, Switzerland, oversees the implementation of the treaty and assists with communications between countries.
Protecting Species from Unsustainable Trade
♤ Species for which trade is controlled are listed in one of three Appendices to CITES, each conferring a different level of regulation and requiring CITES permits or certificates.
Appendix I:
♤ Includes species threatened with extinction and provides the greatest level of protection, including restrictions on commercial trade. Examples include gorillas, sea turtles, most lady slipper orchids, and giant pandas.
Appendix II:
♤ Includes species that although currently not threatened with extinction, may become so without trade controls. It also includes species that resemble other listed species and need to be regulated in order to effectively control the trade in those other listed species.
Appendix III:
♤ Includes species for which a range country has asked other Parties to help in controlling international trade. Examples include map turtles, walruses and Cape stag beetles.
♤ Until CoP13, these meeting were held every two years; since then, CoPs are held every three years.
♤ CoP16 is scheduled to occur from March 3-14, 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand.
CITES Role in Conservation
♤ Over the last several decades, CITES has helped ensure global conservation of species.
♤ The Parties have adopted a 5-year strategic vision to guide CITES through 2013.
The plan sets the following goals:
♤ Ensure compliance with and implementation and enforcement of the Convention.
♤ Secure the necessary financial resources and means for the operation and implementation of the Convention.
♤ Contribute to significantly reducing the rate of biodiversity loss by ensuring that CITES and other multilateral instruments and processes are coherent and mutually supportive.
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