CITES: Protecting Endangered Species in International Wildlife Trade

International wildlife trade is now popular and happens in both legal and illegal ways because this has grown with improved transport systems. To eradicate the over-exploitation of species in the wild, the international corporation must be required. Hence, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) aims to confirm that international trade in wild fauna and flora is legal, sustainable, and traceable. Then it would not threaten the survival of the species in the wild.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a multilateral environmental agreement (MEA) signed in Washington, on 3rd March 1973, and entered into force on 1st July 1975. Today almost 184 countries in the world have signed the convention and contribute as parties to this international legally binding agreement.

There are twenty-five articles in the text of the convention. Out of all those articles, Articles III, IV, and V are important to know what kind of species are listed in Appendix I, II, and III. CITES is managed by a Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. The three permanent committees called Standing, Animals, and Plants provide technical and scientific support to the parties. CITES governs international trade in specimens of species in wild by a system of permits and certificates issued under specific conditions. It covers the export, re-export, import, and introduction from the sea of live and dead animals and plants, as well as their parts and derivatives.

Over 38700 species of animals and plants are listed in three CITES Appendices, based on the level of protection they require. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction and the international commercial trade of these species is prohibited. Appendix II species are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but they may become so if the trade is not regulated. In Appendix III, species that are regulated within a party's authority and for which other parties' cooperation is required to restrict international trade.

What is the Importance of CITES

Today, international wildlife trade is popular and happens in both legal and illegal ways because this has grown with improved transport systems due to modern technology in the world. In addition, with increasing human populations, the demands create. Hence the trade is extensive, encompassing anything from live animals and plants to a wide range of wildlife-derived products such as food, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, lumber, tourist trinkets, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

People gain much from effectively regulating trade in wildlife goods, such as providing sustainable livelihoods and safeguarding ecosystems and the critical services they provide. Therefore, for protecting certain species from over-exploitation, the international corporation must be required, and it needs to be regulated. Then CITES was initiated.

Hence, the goal of CITES is to guarantee that international trade in wild animals and plants is legal, sustainable, and traceable and that it does not threaten the existence of wild species as described earlier.

Eventually, through people, planet, prosperity, and partnership, it contributes to the fulfillment of the sustainable development goals by reflecting the three components of sustainable development such as social, economic, and ecological. On the other hand, it is essential to identify what kind of trade is covered by CITES.

This convention is relevant to a wide range of business and economic sectors because the entire economic sectors such as food, housing and furniture, health and beauty, leisure, tourism, and fashion industry rely on many of CITES regulated species.

For example, Mahogany and Rosewood use in the furniture industry. In addition, for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics most medicinal plants are used. For the fashion and clothing industry animal skins are used to manufacture leather, furs, and fibers. As well as the wildlife trade is essential for museums, botanical gardens, and aquariums.

What is the Objective of CITES

The objective of CITES is to guarantee that international trade in plants and animals which is legal, sustainable, and traceable does not actually harm their survival.

The United States, a CITES permanent member, is the largest importer and exporter of wildlife products in the global wildlife trade, which is estimated to be worth $300 billion. CITES also establishes a framework for combating illegal wildlife trade.

In addition, the mission of CITES is to regulate the impact of international trade on the conservation status of vulnerable animal and plant species.

Its major goal is to restrict unsustainable trade, rather than to promote sustainable alternatives or to consider the livelihoods of people who rely on it. Hence, the success of CITES must be judged in terms of its mission.

CITES now has a species- and consignment-oriented focus, which is compatible with its concentration on international trade. There are movements to give it regionally and ecosystem objectives.

The Structure of CITES

The main actors in the CITES compliance system are the Conference of Parties, the Standing Committee, and the Secretariat.

The Conference of the Parties (CoP) is the ultimate CITES authority, and it is made up of delegates from all national parties. It meets every three years. Its main responsibilities including such as

§  Considering and adopting amendments to Appendices I and II in accordance with the Convention's requirements

§  Reviewing progress toward the restoration and conservation of all listed species

§  Reviewing Secretariat and Parties reports

§  Making recommendations to improve the Convention's effectiveness.

The Standing Committee is an executive body made up of 14 regional party leaders that provide operational continuity between CoP sessions. Its tasks are varied, including oversight of other CoP committees and the formulation of CoP resolutions.

The Animals and Plants Committees are the two main technical committees. Each has 20 members, evenly distributed across the five continents. These have a broad advising role, notably in relation to listings, and may be involved in the compliance system by assessing the conservation status of CITES species and providing advice on potential remedial actions.

The Secretariat is in Geneva, Switzerland, and has a staff of 30 people. CITES is administrated by this Secretariat. By virtue of its Convention mandate, the Secretariat is authorized to perform compliance verification, which includes studying Parties' reports and requesting any further information it deems necessary to ensure the Convention's implementation.

How CITES Works

CITES works by imposing restrictions on international commerce in specimens of specific species. All species covered by the Convention must be imported, exported, reexported, and introduced from the sea through a licensing system.

Each Convention Party must appoint one or more Management Authorities to oversee the licensing system, as well as one or more Scientific Authorities to advise them on the impacts of trade on the species status.

All the species that are covered by CITES are divided into three Appendices.  each one of the appendices has a different level of protection. The three CITES Appendices are Appendix I, Appendix II, and Appendix III.

The CITES Appendices

Appendix I

Species under the threat of extinction are listed in Appendix I. It is permissible to trade specimens of these species, only in unusual situations

When considering the appendix I specimens, it is necessary to obtain an import permit from the State's Management Authority. Only if the specimen will not be used largely for commercial purposes and if the import will not be damaging to the species' existence will this be issued.

The Scientific Authority must be satisfied that the prospective receiver is equipped to house and care for a live animal or plant. Management authority of the state of export or re-export must also issue an export permission or re-export certificate.

Only if the specimen was legally collected, the trade will not threaten the species' survival, and an import permit that has previously been issued may an export permit be provided. Only if the specimen was imported in compliance with the Convention's rules and, in the event of a live animal or plant, if an import permit was issued, may a re-export certificate be provided.

A live animal or plant must be prepared and sent in such a way that any chance of injury, health damage, or terrible treatment is minimized.

Appendix II

Appendix II contains species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but their trade must be regulated to avoid unsustainable consumption.

It is necessary to have an export permit or re-export certificate issued by the Management Authority of the exporting or re-exporting state. Only if the specimen was legally obtained and the export will not threaten the species' survival can an export authorization be provided.

Only if the specimen was imported in compliance with the Convention can a re-export certificate be granted. A live 13 animal or plant must be prepared and sent in such a way that any chance of injury, health damage, or terrible treatment is minimized.

Unless required by national law, no import authorization is necessary.

For species classified in Appendix I or II, a certificate issued by the Management Authority of the State into which the specimens are being brought is required for specimens introduced from the sea.

Appendix III

This Appendix comprises species that are protected in at least one country that has requested assistance from other CITES Parties in regulating trade.

Changes to Appendix III are managed differently than changes to Appendix I and II because each Party has the authority to make unilateral changes to it. Only if the necessary documentation has been obtained and provided for clearance at the port of entry or exit may a specimen of a CITES-listed species be imported into or exported (or re-exported) from a State which has signed to the Convention.

An export authorization granted by the State's Management Authority is required for commerce from a State that includes the species in Appendix III. Only if the specimen was taken legally and, in the event of a live animal or plant, if it will be processed and sent in such a way that any risk of injury, damage to health, or cruel treatment is minimized.

A certificate of origin issued by the State's Management Authority is required for the export from any other country. A re-export certificate issued by the re-exporting state is required in the case of re-export.

The CITES Species

CITES protects around 38,700 species from over-exploitation through international commerce, including 5,950 animal species and 32,800 plant species. The CITES Appendices contain a list of them.

In the Appendices, the species are categorized by how threatened they are by international trade. Primates, cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), sea turtles, parrots, corals, cacti, and orchids are among the many species they encompass.

However, in some circumstances, a subspecies, or geographically distinct population species (for example, the population of a single country) is listed. As of November 26, 2019, the table below shows the estimated number of species in the CITES Appendices.

The table of the estimated number of species in the CITES Appendices, as of 26 November 2019

In the CITES official website, there is a checklist to identify CITES species, especially with the location they have regulated.