the importance of cites

8/11/2019 The Importance of CITES

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Ryan Anthony G. Perea

Written Report

What is CITES?

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild*Fauna and Flora(CITES)is an international treaty to prevent species from becomingendangered or extinct because of international trade. Under this treaty, countries worktogether to regulate the international trade of animal and plant species and ensure thatthis trade is not detrimental to the survival of wild populations. Any trade in protectedplant and animal species should be sustainable, based on sound biologicalunderstanding and principles.

*FLORA & FAUNA

By definition,Florais a word of Latin origin referring to Flora, the goddess of flowers. The term can refer

to a group of plants or to bacteria. Flora is the root of the word floral, which means pertaining to flowers.

Fauna can refer to the animal life or classification of animals of a certain region, time period, or

environment. The term is also of Latin origin, and in Romanmythology,Fauna was the sister of Faunus, a

good spirit of the forest and plains.
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The Structure of CITES

Conferenc e of the Parties

The Parties (member States) to CITES are collectively referred to as the

Conference of the Parties. Every two to three years, the Conference of the Parties

meets to review the implementation of the Convention. These meetings last for about

two weeks and are usually hosted by one of the Parties. The meetings are often

referred to as CoPs. They provide the occasion for the Parties to:

review progress in the conservation of species included in the

Appendices;

consider (and where appropriate adopt) proposals to amend the lists of

species in Appendices I and II;

consider discussion documents and reports from the Parties, the

permanent committees, the Secretariat and working groups;

recommend measures to improve the effectiveness of the Convention;

and

make provisions (including the adoption of a budget) necessary to allow

the Secretariat to function effectively.


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Standing Comm ittee

The Standing Committee provides policy guidance to the Secretariat concerning

the implementation of the Convention and oversees the management of the

Secretariat's budget. Beyond these key roles, it coordinates and oversees, where

required, the work of other committees and working groups; carries out tasks given to it

by the Conference of the Parties; and drafts resolutions for consideration by the

Conference of the Parties

Themembers of the Standing Committee are Parties representing each of the six

major geographical regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Central and South

America and the Caribbean, and Oceania), with the number of representatives weighted

according to the number of Parties within the region. The membership of the Standing

Committee is reviewed at every regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

The CITES Secretariat

The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP and is located at Geneva,

Switzerland. It has a pivotal role, fundamental to the Convention and its functions are

laid down inArticle XII of the text of the Convention. They include:

playing a coordinating, advisory and servicing role in the working of the

Convention;

assisting with communication and monitoring the implementation of the

Convention to ensure that its provisions are respected;

arranging meetings of the Conference of the Parties and of the permanent

Committees at regular intervals and servicing those meetings (i.e. organizing

them, preparing and circulating meeting documents, making necessary

arrangements for delegates to attend the meetings, providing advice and

support, etc.);

providing assistance in the fields of legislation, enforcement, science and

training; undertaking, under agreed programmes, occasional scientific and technical

studies into issues affecting the implementation of the Convention;

making recommendations regarding the implementation of the Convention;

acting as the repository for the reports, sample permits and other information

submitted by the Parties;
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distributing information relevant to several or all Parties, for example, proposals

to amend the Appendices, sample permits, information about enforcement

problems, national legislation, reference material or news of a new Party;

issuing new editions ofAppendices I, II and III,whenever there is a change, as

well as of the Resolutions and Decisions adopted by the Conference of the

Parties at its meetings, and information to assist identification of species listed in

the Appendices; and

preparing annual reports to the Parties on its own work and on the

implementation of the Convention;

How CITES works?The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild

Fauna and Flora (CITES) is administered through the United Nations EnvironmentProgramme (UNEP). A Secretariat, located in Geneva, Switzerland, oversees theimplementation of the treaty and assists with communications between countries.

Each country that implements CITES, referred to as a Party, must designate aManagement Authority and Scientific Authority to carry out the treaty. TheManagement

Authority ensures that CITES-listed species are traded legally issues permits. TheScientific Authority determines whether trade in a particular animal or plant species

could be detrimental to its survival in the wild

The CITES Parties meet every 2-3 years to discuss progress in conservation andto amend the lists of species protected as part of the agreement.
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What species are protected under CITES?

Over 5,000 species of animals and 25,000 species of plants are protected underCITES, including elephants, great apes, tigers, great white sharks, certain whalespecies, coral, sturgeon, mahogany, and many others.


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CITES Spec ies

Protected species covered by CITES are classified into three groups according to thelevel of threat they face.

Appendix I

This appendix lists the most endangered animal and plant species of all those listed andprotected by the CITES Convention. These species are threatened with extinction andCites categorically prohibits international trade in them, except when they are beingimported for certain non-commercial reasons (article III) , as in the case of scientific

research.. In such cases trade is permitted as long as it is authorized by an explicitimport permit and export or re-export permit.

App endix II

This appendix includes controlled species, where the species is protected within itshome state and that state has sought help to control trade in it and limit the decline ofthe species. These states require the collaboration of other Cites members to prevent

unsustainable exploitation and illegal trade in these species. International trade ispermitted only on presentation of the relevant permit or certificate.

Examples: Monkeys, some crocodiles, pythons, parrots, tortoises and some soft shellturtles, sturgeons, bird-wing butterflies, American ginseng, some orchids, ramin,agarwood, seahorses, hard corals and giant clams etc.

Append ix III

This appendix includes controlled species, where the species is protected within itshome state and that state has sought help to control trade in it and limit the decline ofthe species. These states require the collaboration of other Cites members to preventunsustainable exploitation and illegal trade in these species. International trade ispermitted only on presentation of the relevant permit or certificate.


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Examples: Wild water buffalo, walruses, mongooses, some deer, pheasants, foxes,snakes, soft shell turtles.

Mammals

The following entire groups (orders orfamilies) of mammals are included inCITES Appendices I or II:

all primates all cetaceans (whales & dolphins) all cats (leopard, tiger, etc) all bears all elephants all rhinoceroses

Reptiles

The following entire groups (orders orfamilies) of reptiles are included inCITES Appendices I or II:

all crocodylians (alligators,

crocodiles, caimans, etc) all sea turtles (Cheloniidae) all Boidae (boas, pythons)


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Cactus and Orchids

Other Plants

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