18th Conference of Parties of CITES

CITES stands for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is a voluntary international agreement.

CITES was established by the IUCN resolution of 1963.

CITIES came into force in the year 1975 in the month of July. Currently, there are 183 parties in the agreement. Some of the important takeaway from the COP 18 for India are Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is moved to appendix I, Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) is included in CITES Appendix II, Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) has was moved from CITES Appendix II to CITES Appendix I.COP 19 will take place in Costa Rica in 2022.

Aim 

The aim of CITES is to limit the trade in the flora and fauna to an extent so that it doesn’t affect the survival of these species.

CITIES secretariat

• The CITES Secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland and is administered by UNEP, which is the United Nations Environment Programme.

• The UNEP plays a coordinating and advisory role in the working of CITES.

• The conference of parties of CITES is the supreme decision-making body and the last COP  ( 17 th)was held at South Africa Johannesburg in 2016. India hosted CoP 3rd in 1981.

• CITES is legally binding  in the member parties but it doesn’t replace the rules of the country or take their place; rather it gives a framework on which the parties can act to ensure that CITES is followed at national level.

Functions of CITES

Some of the functions of the CITES is listed below -:

• CITIES main function is to control the international trade among species of certain flora and fauna in such a way that it doesn’t lead to extinction.

• Under the CITES agreement, an extensive licensing system has been designed that covers everything import, export etc.

• Under the CITES Convention  Management Authorities are made for the licensing system.

• scientific authorities are made to advise them on the repercussions of trade and the corresponding status of the species.

• Further the CITES Convention has a specific appendix based on the threat to the species . Under the Appendix I, II and III of the convention different species are listed based on the level of protection required.

Appendix II of CITES

Appendix II encompasses those species of flora and fauna that are not facing the threat of extinction for the time being but if the trade is not controlled or limited, they might go extinct. Most of the CITES species are listed under this category . Be it the American ginseng, paddlefish, lions, American alligators, mahogany and many corals.

According to the statistics 34,419 species are listed under Appendix II. The striking feature of the Appendix II is that it includes look – alike species – these are those species that look similar to those species that are listed for conservation reasons.

Under the trade agreement  – international trade under the Appendix II species may be allowed or authorised by the granting of an export permit or re-export certificate. Generally, no import permit is required for these species Under CITES but in some countries, who follow stricter CITES guidelines, ask for import permits.

The authorisation of the permits and certificates is to be based on if the relevant authorities are satisfied that issuing the permits won’t be detrimental to the species.

Conclusion

CITES stands for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora . It is a voluntary international agreement. CITES was established by the IUCN resolution of 1963 CITIES came into force in the year 1975 in the month of July. Currently there are 183 parties in the agreement. The aim of CITES is to limit the trade in the flora and fauna to an extent so that it doesn’t affect the survival of these species. The CITES Secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland and is administered by  UNEP and plays a coordinating and advisory role in the working of CITES.

The conference of parties of CITES is the supreme decision-making body and the last COP  ( 17 th)was held at South Africa Johannesburg in 2016. CITES is a legally binding bind to its member parties CITIES the main function is to control the international trade among species of certain flora and fauna in control such that it doesn’t lead to extinction.