Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
Sarah Page
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The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and
Fauna often referred to as CITES is the largest wildlife trade treaty to date. The purpose
of this treaty is to “ensure that no species of wild fauna or flora becomes or remains
subject to unsustainable exploitation because of international trade” (WWF). CITES was
drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting with International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) members. The text of the Convention was finally
agreed upon at a meeting of representatives of 80 countries in Washington DC in 1973.
In 1975, the treaty was in full force. CITES is an international agreement to which States,
also known as countries, adhere voluntarily. Although CITES is a legally binding set of
laws it does not take place of the national laws. Rather it “provides a framework to be
respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that
CITES is implemented at the national level” (CITES-6). Currently, it has 175 different
countries that are in agreement. The nations meet once every two-and-a-half years to
consider whether or not they need to add new species, adjust trade rules or to remove
species that are no longer threatened (CITES-6).
The document itself works by differentiating the species and specimen into a
certain Appendix. A specimen is defined as an individual animal, any part of an animal,
a plant, or any part of a plant. This includes leathers, ivory, furs, dried herbs and the
like. There are three different Appendices and each has different levels of protection
from over-exploitation due to trade. Permits are required for either import, export or a
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certificate for re-export. Species that are listed under Appendix-I are the most
endangered. Amongst many other species some of the more commonly known
Appendix-I animals include the Hippopotamus, Ocelot and the Polar Bear. They are
threatened with extinction and CITES prohibits international trade in specimens of
these species. Appendix-II lists species that are not currently threatened with extinction
but may become so unless trade of the species is closely monitored. Examples of
Appendix-II species include the Barbary sheep, the Wood Bison and Guanaco. Species
may be added to or removed from Appendix I and II, or moved between them, only if
both parties agree. If agreed they can make the changes at the next meeting or through
postal procedures. Appendix-III includes species that are being regulated by one
country and wish to have cooperation from other countries to avoid their exploitation
i.e. the Black Buck in Nepal. In order to trade a species that is listed in Appendix-III the
appropriate permit or certificate must be presented. Species may be added to or
removed from Appendix III at any time and by any Party without the other party’s
agreement. A species can be listed in both Appendix-I and in Appendix-II if the species
is more threatened in a certain location i.e. the African Elephant (CITES-1)(CITES-3).
Each Appendix has certain regulations that must be met in order to transport a
specimen. They all require that the specimen is legally obtained, that the specimen will
not be detrimental to the survival of the species and that in the case of a live animal or
plant it will be shipped in a way that will not risk injury, death or cruel treatment.
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Appendix-I requires an import permit issued by the Management Authority of the State
of Import. Also requiring an export permit or re-export certificate from the
Management Authority of the State of Export. Appendix I states that in the case of a live
animal or plant the country exporting must be satisfied that the proposed recipient is
equipped to care for it. The difference between Appendix I and Appendix II being that
Appendix II does not require an import permit in order to export the specimen unless
required by national law. Of course there are exceptions to rules and the treaty is not
immune to these exceptions. For example, there are different regulations for specimens
that were acquired prior to the convention, specimens that are being shipped, animals
that were ‘bred in captivity’ and plants that have been ‘artificially propagated’ (CITES1).
CITES is made up of departments who all have specialized staff who carry out
different tasks. This includes the leaders who sign the treaty to those within the country
who enforce the treaty. The structure of the Treaty begins with a Conference of Parties.
The meeting of parties usually last for approximately two weeks and is hosted by one of
the countries. The Conference has several tasks that need to be discussed. Amongst
them is reviewing the progress for species that are listed, considering any changes,
making measures to improve the effectiveness of conservation and provisions that
allow the Secretariat the room to function effectively. The Secretariat is administered by
the IUCN and is the basic coordinator for all the parties involved. It arranges all the
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meetings, helps with enforcement issues, makes recommendations regarding
implementation and issues annual reports with updates to the species that are listed.
There are two committees that provide scientific information to the Secretariat. One has
specialties in the flora department while the other specializes in fauna. With the
knowledge about the species listed the information is passed on to enforcement
organizations such as TRAFFIC, IUCN and the UNEP-WCMC (CITES-5). TRAFFIC is a
wildlife trade network that monitors the trade of species that are threatened or
endangered. This organization employs approximately 100 people in 30 different
countries and also works very closely with WWF and the IUCN (TRAFFIC).
This treaty could be classified as an Institutional model because the Parties or
Countries involved make the decisions about the species that are listed. However, the
group model can apply at the very basic level of getting people together and writing
their local government to discuss a certain species’ survival. If the group has enough
evidence to prove that the species needs to be conserved the Country can then make a
proposal to the Secretariat. With the Endangered Species Act in the United States it is
easier to make a proposal because gathering the scientific information in other countries
is still an ongoing battle (WWF). However, recently the Secretariat received as many as
50 proposals for different species all in different countries (CITES-4).
The CITES treaty not only employs people from many countries but it also affects
those who live in the country that is in accordance with it. An article by E.H. Bulte, G.
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Kooten and T. Swanson, which can be found on the CITES website, discusses the
economic incentives for protecting wildlife. The authors say that the one of the main
dilemmas is the costs and benefits of protecting wildlife are different for “source”
countries. For example, the African Elephant who is valued by those who will someday
see them in the wild (including those who value that they even exist) is far different
than the country that contains them. While the cost of tourism is a very large part of
their Gross National Profit the cost of highly prized ivory is worth far more to someone
who lives in the area (CITES-2).
In order for wildlife treaties or protection laws to become fully effective there
needs to be a more effective cost benefit analysis for those who live in the source
countries. While CITES is an effective treaty for many species there is still much
improvement that is needed to be made, mainly with the countries that contain the
most precious and endangered species. When the inherent value of a species matches
the monetary value for those who contain them, only then will there be progress.
However, such a day may not come with the current turmoil that exists in the countries
that contain the most treasured species.
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References
1) Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/how.shtml. How CITES Works. 28 March 2009.
2) Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
http://www.cites.org/eng/prog/economics/CITES-draft6-final.pdf. Economic
Incentives and Wildlife Conservation. 28 March 2009
3) Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml. The Appendices I, II, III. 28
March 2009
4) Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/sec/index.shtml. The CITES Secretariat. 28
March 2009.
5) Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/org.shtml. The Structure of CITES. 28 March
2009
6) Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/whats.html. What is CITES? 28 March 2009.
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7) World Wildlife Fund.
http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/globalmarkets/wildlifetrade/cites
about.html. Wildlife Trade. 26 March 2009.
8) TRAFFIC- The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network.
http://www.traffic.org/overview/. About TRAFFIC. 26 March 2009
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