CITES

CITES is an international convention that is signed by multiple governments across the world to protect “endangered species” that are under threat. This agreement bans international trade of “endangered species”. This agreement is used as an important tool to deal with addressing wildlife crimes on an international level and set accountability of countries to make the agreement more effective. In the middle of the 20th century, this agreement was signed. 

Definition of CITES

CITES is an abbreviation of “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”. Multiple countries across the globe have signed this agreement to protect the lives of endangered species. It is an important tool used for addressing wildlife crime on an international level and holding accountability of countries to make it more efficient. In the middle of the 20th-century countries across the globe have started to realize wildlife trading of endangered animals and plants need to be stopped and the catastrophic effects on these rare species. These species are heading towards extinction due to unsustainable use for fuel, food, medicine, and other motives. While individual government establishments have no control over what is happening across borders, they have realized the loss caused due to trading of endangered species. In 1973, 21 countries have historically signed the pact of CITES to put restrictions on international trading of rare species. Forty years later, CITES remains on one of the foundations of international convention. In this agreement 183 member countries used to regulate more than 35,000 rare species. Member countries of CITES meet every two to three years in a conference to evaluate progress and create the list of rare species, which is further classified into three groups. The “Conference of Parties” will be organized in Geneva, Switzerland from August 17 to 28. This conference has to be carried out to bring governments to the same table from around the globe, law enforcement agencies, NGOs come together to assess progress, update lists of commercially threatened species and strengthen international awareness of rare species. “World Wildlife Forum (WWF)” urges governments to recognize the significant threat to rare species, wildlife crimes, and put accountability on member parties for failing to meet objectives to protect rare species. At the platform of CITES, “WWF” focused on defense and promoting things associated with “elephant ivory, rhino horn, tiger parts, and few maritime species. 

Importance of CITES

The importance of CITES can be described as it is a pact signed by different governments from the world to ban trading of endangered species. The international trade of endangered species was used for food, making leather goods, and trinkets. CITES came into picture in 1975 intending to ban international trade of rare species and ensure safety of animals and plants. Presently, CITES is used to protect around 5800 endangered species of animals and 30,000 endangered species of plants. The protection measures of endangered species are clearly described in the agreement of CITES. CITES was first proposed in 1963 at a meeting of the “International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)” which is popularly known as the global organization for wildlife conservation. Every two to three years CITES members meet in a conference named “Conference of Parties (CoP)” to assess the implementation of the convention. The motive of this two-week-long meeting is to contain or remove species from appendices.

CITES convention

The formation of CITES has to be done to prevent species from becoming rare species. It is an international agreement. Species were becoming threatened and endangered because of the international trade of those species. Under this agreement, countries work together to protect endangered animal and plant species and ensure the rights of wildlife populations. At the start of 1960, international talks started on the speed of animal and plant species becoming endangered due to uncontrolled international trading. In this international agreement, three appendices have been discussed for the protection of endangered species (tigers and gorillas). In appendix 1, most endangered animals and plants species have been mentioned. Appendix 1 completely prohibits the trade of these species for international and commercial purposes. Except for scientific purposes, this has been totally banned. In appendix 2, discussions of those species (hippos and corals) that are not yet threatened or endangered but could be extinct if uncontrolled trade is going are elaborated. Incorporated species that are similar to the species already on the list are discussed for preservation causes. Such plants and animal species can be traded globally, but there are strict measures. In appendix 3, species whose trade is controlled in a specific country is discussed. 

Conclusion

Through the regulation and prohibition of international wildlife trade on endangered species such as plants and animals, CITES remains one of the most powerful international platforms for protecting biodiversity. At the annual conference of CITES, member countries review the progress they made so far, evaluate implemented strategies, strategies that need to be changed or reshaped and hold accountability of member countries. The last meeting of CITES was held in Bangkok in March 2013. CITES created mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of vulnerable and endangered species and ensure their safety across international levels. CITES meeting held every two to three years.