Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
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Name	Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Caption	Logo of CITES
Type	Multilateral environmental agreement
Date signed	3 March 1973
Location signed	Washington, D.C., United States
Date effective	1 July 1975
Condition effective	10 ratifications
Signatories	21
Parties	184
Depositor	Swiss Federal Council
Languages	English, French, Spanish
Website	https://cites.org/

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is a pivotal international agreement between governments designed to ensure that the global trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Drafted from a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the treaty entered into force in 1975 and is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme. With 184 member parties, it provides a regulatory framework, utilizing a system of permits and certificates for trade in species listed across three appendices, ranging from those threatened with extinction to those requiring cooperation to prevent unsustainable exploitation.

History and background

The origins of the treaty trace back to discussions at the 1963 General Assembly of the International Union for Conservation of Nature held in Nairobi. Growing international concern over the unsustainable trade in wildlife, such as for ivory, furs, and exotic pets, catalyzed its development. The text of the convention was finalized and signed by 21 countries in Washington, D.C. on 3 March 1973, an event sometimes referred to as the "Washington Convention." It entered into force on 1 July 1975 after ratification by the required ten states, which included the United States and Sweden. Key early proponents included figures from the World Wildlife Fund and conservationists alarmed by the decline of species like the tiger and the African elephant.

Structure and operation

The convention operates through a permanent secretariat located in Geneva, administered by the United Nations Environment Programme. Its supreme decision-making body is the Conference of the Parties, which meets every two to three years, such as in Bangkok or The Hague. Key committees include the Standing Committee and scientific committees like the Animals Committee and the Plants Committee, which review biological and trade data. National implementation requires each Party to designate at least one Management Authority and one Scientific Authority, responsible for issuing permits and providing non-detriment findings, respectively. The treaty's provisions are integrated into national law, as seen with the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the European Union Wildlife Trade Regulations.

Appendices and species listing

Species are listed across three appendices based on the level of protection required. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction, such as the giant panda, mountain gorilla, and most great apes, where commercial trade is generally prohibited. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened but for which trade must be controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival, covering a vast array like the American black bear, many sturgeon species for caviar, and the bigleaf mahogany. Appendix III contains species protected in at least one country that has asked other Parties for assistance in controlling trade, such as the Honduras rosewood. Listing proposals are submitted by Parties and decided by the Conference of the Parties, often following intense debate, as historically seen with the African elephant and white rhinoceros.

Implementation and enforcement

Implementation relies on a permit system where exports and imports of listed specimens require documentation from national authorities. Enforcement is primarily the responsibility of national agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and international bodies such as the World Customs Organization. The CITES Secretariat facilitates compliance and can recommend trade suspensions against non-compliant Parties, as has occurred with nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Key enforcement tools include the Review of Significant Trade process and collaboration with INTERPOL on operations like Operation Thunderbird targeting wildlife crime. Challenges include combating illegal trade in high-value items like rhinoceros horn and tiger parts, often linked to organized crime syndicates in Asia and Africa.

Impact and criticism

The treaty is credited with providing a critical framework that has likely prevented the extinction of numerous species, such as the Nile crocodile and the gray whale, by regulating their international trade. It has raised global awareness and influenced related agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity. However, critics argue that listing can create black markets, as seen with the ivory trade ban, and that decisions can be overly politicized, favoring economic interests over conservation science, particularly regarding marine species like the Atlantic bluefin tuna. Some conservationists advocate for stronger measures and better funding for range states, while others question the efficacy of trade bans versus sustainable use models supported by nations like South Africa and Namibia for species such as the African elephant.