CITES
Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species
of *Flora and Fauna
What is CITES?
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild *Fauna
and Flora.
• It is an international agreement between governments to protect
endangered plants and animals.
• FLORA & FAUNA
• By definition,
Flora is a word of Latin origin referring to Flora, the goddess of flowers.
The term can refer to a group of plants or to bacteria. Flora is the root of
the word floral, which means pertaining to flowers. Fauna can refer to the
animal life or classification of animals of a certain region, time period, or
environment. The term is also of Latin origin, and in Roman mythology,
Fauna was the sister of Faunus, a good spirit of the forest and plains.
CITES, A Brief History
• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species wild
fauna and flora -CITES- was signed on March 3, 1973 in Washington, n
D.C., It entered into force on July 1, 1975
• By 2019 the number of state parties to the convention had grown to
183.
Importance of CITES
The Convention on International Trade of Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is the only treaty that
regulates international trade in wildlife. They are the
defenders of Wildlife.
Who administers CITES?
• The CITES Secretariat, based in Geneva, is responsible for
administering the treaty. The Secretariat itself is administered by the
United Nations Environmental Program.
CITES Secretariat
It has a pivotal role, fundamental to the Convention and its functions
are laid down in Article XII of the text of the Convention. They
include: playing a coordinating, advisory and servicing role in the
working of the Convention; assisting with communication and
monitoring the implementation of the Convention to ensure that its
provisions are respected…
How CITES works?
• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (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.
• Each country that implements CITES, referred to as a “Party”, must designate a
Management Authority and Scientific Authority to carry out the treaty.
• The Management Authority ensures that CITES-listed species are traded legally
issues permits. The Scientific Authority determines whether trade in a particular
animal or plant species could be detrimental to its survival in the wild .
• The CITES Parties meet every 2-3 years to discuss progress in conservation and to
amend the lists of species protected as part of the agreement.
CITES Species
The species covered by CITES are included in three Appendices,
according to the degree of protection they need.
Appendix I
This appendix lists the most endangered animal and plant species of
all those listed and protected by the CITES Convention. These species
are threatened with extinction and Cites categorically prohibits
international trade in them, except when they are being imported for
certain non-commercial reasons (article III) , as in the case of scientific
research. In such cases trade is permitted as long as it is authorized by
an explicit import permit and export or re-export permit.
Appendix II
This appendix includes controlled species, where the species is
protected within its home state and that state has sought help to
control trade in it and limit the decline of the species. These states
require the collaboration of other Cites members to prevent
unsustainable exploitation and illegal trade in these species.
International trade is permitted only on presentation of the relevant
permit or certificate.
Examples: Monkeys, some crocodiles, pythons,
parrots, tortoises and some soft shell turtles,
sturgeons, bird-wing butterflies, American ginseng,
some orchids, ramin, agarwood, seahorses, hard
corals and giant clams etc.
Appendix
• III
This appendix includes controlled species, where the species is protected
within its home state and that state has sought help to control trade in it
and limit the decline of the species. These states require the collaboration
of other Cites members to prevent unsustainable exploitation and illegal
trade in these species. International trade is permitted only on
presentation of the relevant permit or certificate
Examples:
Wild water buffalo, walruses,
mongooses, some deer, pheasants,
foxes, snakes, soft shell turtles.
Reference:
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Convention-on-International-Trade
-in-Endangered-Species
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLhMLAPL6-o&list=PPSV
• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/convention-on-i
nternational-trade-in-endangered-species
