UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora
The UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade does not threaten the survival of wild animals and plants. Established in response to growing concerns about endangered species in the 1960s, CITES took effect on July 1, 1975, following discussions initiated by the United States. The convention categorizes species into three appendices based on their level of vulnerability: Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction, Appendix II comprises species that may become threatened without regulated trade, and Appendix III involves species needing regulation to prevent exploitation.
CITES primarily focuses on regulating trade rather than directly addressing species preservation or habitat protection. While it has garnered significant global support, some nations have sought exemptions from its trade restrictions due to economic interests. Though CITES has had success in reducing trade and poaching of certain species, challenges remain, particularly with illegal smuggling, notably in regions like Southeast Asia. Critics argue that enhanced enforcement and the elimination of reservation exemptions are necessary to better protect the world's most endangered species. Overall, CITES plays a crucial role in international efforts to safeguard biodiversity through regulated trade practices.
UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora
- DATE: Adopted December 28, 1973; entered into force July 1, 1975
The United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was a limited international treaty designed to regulate commerce in endangered species and products made from endangered animals and plants.
Background
In the 1960s, international concern for the of endangered species was led by the United States, which launched international activism in this area when it passed its own protective legislation, the 1966 Endangered Species Preservation Act and the 1969 Endangered Species Conservation Act. One of the provisions of the latter law was that the United States would take the initiative in convening an international meeting on endangered species no later than June 30, 1971. Although the deadline was not met, the United Nations did bring together representative nations, which eventually developed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It took effect July 1, 1975.
Provisions
The United States was the first nation to ratify CITES and became a strong supporter of its provisions and enforcement. The convention was an international agreement under which participating nations agreed to abide by certain trade rules. The treaty did not deal with the preservation of species or their habitats; it dealt only with international trade, thus limiting its effectiveness in protecting species biodiversity.
CITES divided species into three levels of vulnerability and protection: Appendix I, all species threatened with extinction or affected by trade; Appendix II, species not threatened with extinction but that could become so without strictly regulated trade in specimens; and Appendix III, species subject to regulation for the purpose of preventing exploitation. Each appendix contained a list of species that could be added or deleted as their population decreased or stabilized, with an elaborate series of trade permits within each category.
Nations that ratified CITES also had the option of seeking a reservation to the convention, a form of exemption from trade restrictions because of an overriding economic interest. The reservation meant, in effect, that the nation did not accept the listing of a species in one of the three appendixes and that therefore the country would not observe trade restrictions. CITES was administered by a Conference of the Parties, a group meeting every two years to review trade information and biological surveys of endangered species. The Conferences of the Parties were the forums in which a determination was made about whether the listing of a specific species on an appendix is appropriate.
Impact on Resource Use
While CITES received the support of most of the world, several nations were particularly affected by its trade restrictions and sought reservations or refused to ratify the treaty. CITES was somewhat successful in reducing the trade in and poaching of certain species, although a considerable level of illegal smuggling activity continued to occur, mostly in Southeast Asia. Critics believe that while CITES made some inroads into species preservation, only a more strict enforcement policy and an end to the reservation exemption would truly protect the Earth’s most endangered species.
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"CITES." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2024, https://www.fws.gov/international-affairs/cites#. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.
"What Is CITES?" CITES.org, cites.org/eng/disc/what.php. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.