Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) UPSC

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) : (Washington convention)

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals. 

When was CITES adopted ?

It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The convention entered into force on 1 July 1975. 

What is Aim of CITES ?

Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild, and it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 35,000 species of animals and plants.

Note:-

Participation is voluntary, and countries that have agreed to be bound by the Convention are known as Parties. 

Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties, it does not take the place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework respected by each Party, which must adopt their own domestic legislation to implement CITES at the national level.

Each protected species or population is included in one of three lists, called Appendices.

APPENDIX I

Appendix I, about 1200 species, are species that are threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by trade. 

• Commercial trade in wild-caught specimens of these species is illegal. (permitted only in exceptional licensed circumstances). 

• Captive-bred animals or cultivated plants of Appendix I species are considered Appendix II specimens, with concomitant requirements.

• The Scientific Authority of the exporting country must make a non-

detriment finding, assuring that export of the individuals will not adversely affect the wild population. 

• Any trade in these species requires export and import permits. The Management Authority of the exporting state is expected to check that an import permit has been secured and that the importing state is able to care for the specimen adequately. 

Notable animal species listed in Appendix I include the red panda (Ailurus fulgens), tigers (Panthera tigris subspecies), Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), leopards (Panthera pardus), jaguar (Panthera onca), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), the dugong and manatees (Sirenia), and all rhinoceros species (except some Southern African subspecies populations). 

APPENDIX II

Appendix II, about 21,000 species, are species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so unless trade in specimens of such species is subject to strict regulation in order to avoid utilization incompatible with the survival of the species in the wild. 

In addition, Appendix II can include species similar in appearance to species already listed in the Appendices.

International trade in specimens of Appendix II species may be authorized by the granting of an export permit or re-export certificate. 

In practice, many hundreds of thousands of Appendix II animals are traded annually. No import permit is necessary for these species under CITES, although some Parties do require import permits as part of their stricter domestic measures. 

A non-detriment finding and export permit are required by the exporting Party.

In addition, Article VII of CITES states that specimens of animals listed in Appendix I that are bred in captivity for commercial purposes are treated as Appendix II. The same applies for specimens of Appendix I plants artificially propagated for commercial purposes. 

Examples of species listed on Appendix II are the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), the American black bear (Ursus americanus), green iguana (Iguana iguana), big leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and lignum vitae "ironwood" (Guaiacum officinale).

APPENDIX III

Appendix III, about 170 species, are species that are listed after one member country has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling trade in a species. 

The species are not necessarily threatened with extinction globally. 

In all member countries, trade in these species is only permitted with an appropriate export permit and a certificate of origin from the state of the member country who has listed the species. 

Examples of species listed on Appendix III and the countries that listed them are the two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) by Costa Rica, sitatunga (Tragelaphus Spekii) by Ghana, African civet (Civettictis civetta) by Botswana, and alligator snapping turtle by the USA.