CITES Secretariat

CITES Secretariat
Name	CITES Secretariat
Formation	1976
Founder	Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Type	Secretariat
Headquarters	Geneva
Location	Switzerland
Leader title	Executive Secretary
Parent organization	Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

CITES Secretariat The CITES Secretariat administers the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and supports Parties in regulating international trade in specimens of endangered species, threatened species, and species listed by individual Parties. It operates from Geneva and works closely with multilateral bodies, national agencies, and non‑governmental organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society, and TRAFFIC. The Secretariat provides technical guidance, convenes biannual and quadrennial meetings, and facilitates cooperation among Parties including United States Fish and Wildlife Service, European Commission, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, and regional organizations.

History and Establishment

The Secretariat was created following negotiations that culminated in the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora at the Washington, D.C. conference and its entry into force in 1975, with the Secretariat formally established to serve the Conference of the Parties and the Standing Committee. Early engagement included coordination with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, United Nations Environment Programme, and Commission of the European Communities to operationalize trade controls for species such as the African elephant, Asian elephant, great apes, and Hawksbill sea turtle. Landmark meetings included the first Conference of the Parties at Bern and subsequent sessions at venues like Lausanne, Santiago, and Bangkok. Over decades the Secretariat responded to global challenges addressed by instruments and processes such as the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, adapting its role amid debates on species listings like pangolin and rosewood.

Structure and Governance

The Secretariat is overseen by the Conference of the Parties and operates under the strategic direction of the Standing Committee (CITES), the Animals Committee (CITES), and the Plants Committee (CITES). Leadership is vested in an Executive Secretary who liaises with executive branches of Parties such as Ministry of Environment (Brazil), Department of Conservation (New Zealand), and Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China). Administrative arrangements align with offices in United Nations Office at Geneva and collaboration with institutions like the World Customs Organization, Interpol, and the International Maritime Organization for transport and enforcement matters. The Secretariat's internal divisions coordinate scientific advice, legal affairs, capacity building, and communications while engaging regional representatives from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

Functions and Responsibilities

The Secretariat facilitates implementation of obligations under the CITES instrument, including maintaining records of Party reservations, amendments to Appendices I, II and III, and issuing notifications to Parties and stakeholders including customs administrations, border control authorities, and national scientific authorities such as Smithsonian Institution advisers. It prepares documentation and agendas for meetings like the Conference of the Parties (CITES) and provides legal interpretation support similar to that offered by International Court of Justice registries in treaty contexts. The Secretariat administers procedures for non‑compliance, trade suspensions, and trade recommendations affecting taxa such as African grey parrot, tigers, sharks, and sturgeon. It produces guidance documents, identification guides, and capacity‑building curricula in partnership with organizations such as United Nations Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, and Convention on Biological Diversity.

Coordination with Parties and Stakeholders

The Secretariat acts as an intermediary between national management authorities—including Environment and Climate Change Canada, Department of the Interior (United States), and Ministry of Environment and Forests (India)—and multilateral partners such as the United Nations Environment Programme, Convention on Biological Diversity, and World Bank. It engages conservation NGOs like Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International, and BirdLife International while coordinating with enforcement networks including Interpol Wildlife Crime Working Group and the World Customs Organization Enforcement Committee. The Secretariat convenes technical workshops with academic institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Queensland, and research centers like Zoological Society of London to support science‑based decision making on species listings and sustainable use, and it liaises with regional fisheries management organizations such as Indian Ocean Tuna Commission when marine species are implicated.

Implementation, Compliance, and Enforcement

Implementation activities undertaken by the Secretariat include monitoring Party reporting, administering the Review of Significant Trade, and recommending corrective actions through mechanisms akin to those used by the International Labour Organization for supervisory functions. It supports enforcement through joint initiatives with Interpol, the World Customs Organization, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and national law enforcement agencies like the Royal Malaysian Police and Kenya Wildlife Service, addressing crimes involving species such as rhinos, elephants, pangolins, and ivory. The Secretariat assists Parties in developing legislation consistent with model laws promoted by institutions like the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law and supports forensic approaches used by laboratories including the Forensic Science Service and university research groups to trace illegal wildlife products.

Funding and Resources

The Secretariat’s budget is adopted by the Conference of the Parties and funded principally through assessed contributions by Parties, voluntary contributions from governments such as Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States, and grants from organizations including the Global Environment Facility and European Union. Financial oversight involves audits and reporting standards comparable to those of the United Nations Board of Auditors, and resource allocation supports capacity building, Secretariat operations, and targeted projects delivered with partners such as UNDP, World Bank, and conservation NGOs. Funding constraints periodically prompt collaboration with philanthropic entities like the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and corporate partners engaged in wildlife‑friendly supply chain initiatives.

Category:International environmental organizations