FAQ's About CITES
What is CITES?
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a United Nations-backed treaty among 171 nations “for the protection of certain species of wild fauna and flora against over-exploitation through international trade.” It is designed to eliminate illegal wildlife trade and to mitigate any risk that legal international trade in wild animals and plants might have on the survival of wildlife. The Convention came into force in 1975 and today affords varying degrees of protection to more than 5,000 species of animals and 28,000 plant species, whether they are traded as live specimens for the pet trade, wildlife products such as trinkets, fur coats or caviar, or dried herbs.
How does CITES work?
CITES utilizes a legal framework
centered around three appendices to regulate international trade. CITES works by
banning international trade in highly endangered species (Appendix I) and by
subjecting trade in others to certain controls (Appendix II and III). Species
are listed on Appendix II when they are or may become threatened by trade with
the intent that strict controls eliminate the risk that they become endangered.
Species or geographically limited populations are listed on Appendix III for the
same reasons, but purely on the request of the relevant range state. These
controls include a CITES licensing system for the import, export and re-export
of all regulated species.
In some cases, only a subspecies or
geographically distinct population is listed: for example, the population of a
species in just one country. In others, a species may be listed on Appendix II
-- and an export quota of zero set -- because enforcement problems require such
a restriction.
Quotas and special programs have been developed to
limit exports of “significantly” traded species, and enforcement task forces
have been established to combat illegal trade in especially vulnerable species.
However, the Convention is drastically under-resourced, which prevents it from
realizing its full potential.
Why do we need it?
Because population growth and
increased purchasing power is creating a level of human consumption that in many
parts of the world has already outpaced the Earth’s ability to sustain it.
Particularly vulnerable to extinction as a result of human activity are all
great apes, cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), elephants, tigers, sea
turtles and parrots as well as many corals, cacti and orchids and marine fishes,
such as sharks.
Does CITES ban all trade in these
species?
CITES only bans commercial international trade in those
species listed on Appendix I, which provides for the strictest level of control
for the most highly endangered species. CITES also calls for regulation in
international trade of species that, while not facing extinction now, might
become vulnerable in the future in the absence of steps to prevent this.
These species are listed in Appendix II.
While CITES does not
generally deal with domestic trade, such trade does have implications for the
convention. Many specimens may have been imported in violation of CITES or may
be intended for export or re-export in violation of the
convention.
Although the Parties to CITES are legally bound to
implement the Convention, it does not take the place of national laws. Each
Party has to adopt its own domestic legislation to implement CITES regulations
at the national level.
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How does CITES decide if a species belongs
on Appendix I or Appendix II?
The Conference of the Parties (CoP), composed of all member states, is the decision-making body of CITES that meets once every three years. At this time, parties may submit proposals to amend the appendices. Substantial matters like the listing (or removal) of species on the appendices requires a two-thirds majority, while other decisions are taken by a simple majority, often after intensive discussions.
Is this process used to undermine
conservation needs?
Yes. Some pro-trade nations
continually attempt to “down list” species to non-critical status and relax the
controls that regulate unrestrained trade. Along with industry representatives
they are trying to weaken the Convention by reframing CITES as a tool to advance
trade rather than to protect dwindling populations of wildlife from
over-exploitation and extinction. That’s why participation of organizations such
as IFAW is so important: to counter economically self-serving down listing
proposals and to advocate for those species not yet sufficiently protected by
CITES.
There is no money in the CITES Trust Fund
to finance the cost of implementing new CITES Resolutions.
A Trust Fund, replenished
annually to the tune of about US$5 million, exists to finance the Convention and
its Secretariat, so explaining why there is no money in the CITES Trust Fund to
implement new CITES resolutions is a long and complex challenge.
With the fund shrinking in real terms every year, additional funding must be
raised to finance individual projects (“external funding”).
But one underlying factor must not be ignored - that the trade is
not paying its own way. Those who are benefiting are getting off very
cheaply – and making colossal profits buying and selling animals in the
process. There are more than 100,000,000 CITES-listed animals and plants
traded every year. If a one-penny tax were placed on each of these – CITES
would more than double its current annual budget and enhance its own ability to
effectively implement and enforce its own rulings. Instead, CITES parties
have let traders off the hook by not requiring them to pay for the financial
burden generated by their business and allowing them to shift the burden to poor
communities and to society in general.
