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What is
CITES ?
"CITES"
is stand for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is an international agreement designed to ensure
that trade in wild animals and plants does not endanger their survival. CITES
governs the trade of species listed in its three appendices, with varied
degrees of restriction depending on the extent of threat to their existence.
The convention supports sustainable use of natural resources while also
assisting in the prevention of illegal wildlife trading.
How CITES
Works ?
CITES
operates by subjecting international trade in specimens of certain species to
specified restrictions. All imports, exports, re-exports, and introductions
from the sea of species protected by the Convention must be permitted through a
licensing system. Each Party to the Convention must nominate one or more
Management Authorities to oversee the licensing system, as well as one or more
Scientific Authorities to advise them on the impacts of trade on the species'
status.
The
species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices,
according to the degree of protection they need.
The three
main appendices are:
Appendix I:
Species
listed in Appendix I are considered the most endangered. International trade in
specimens of these species is generally prohibited, except in exceptional
circumstances for scientific research or conservation.
Currently
107 plant species are listed in Appendix I. These are as following-
AGAVACEAE - Agave
parviflora
APOCYNACEAE - Pachypodium
ambongense
Pachypodium baronii
Pachypodium decaryi
Pachypodium windsorii
ARAUCARIACEAE - Araucaria araucana
CACTACEAE - Ariocarpus
spp.
Astrophytum asterias
Aztekium ritteri
Coryphantha werdermannii
Discocactus spp.
Echinocereus ferreiranus ssp. lindsayorum
Echinocereus schmollii
Escobaria minima
Escobaria sneedii
Mammillaria pectinifera {Includes ssp. solisioides}
Melocactus conoideus
Melocactus deinacanthus
Melocactus glaucescens
Melocactus paucispinus
Obregonia denegrii
Pachycereus militaris
Pediocactus bradyi
Pediocactus knowltonii
Pediocactus paradinei
Pediocactus peeblesianus
Pediocactus sileri
Pelecyphora spp.
Sclerocactus blainei
Sclerocactus brevihamatus ssp. tobuschii
Sclerocactus brevispinus
Sclerocactus cloverae
Sclerocactus erectocentrus
Sclerocactus glaucus
Sclerocactus mariposensis
Sclerocactus mesae-verdae
Sclerocactus nyensis
Sclerocactus papyracanthus
Sclerocactus pubispinus
Sclerocactus sileri
Sclerocactus wetlandicus
Sclerocactus wrightiae
Strombocactus spp.
Turbinicarpus spp.
Uebelmannia spp
COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE) - Saussurea costus
CUPRESSACEAE - Fitzroya
cupressoides
Pilgerodendron uviferum
CYCADACEAE - Cycas
beddomei
EUPHORBIACEAE - Euphorbia ambovombensis
Euphorbia capsaintemariensis
Euphorbia cremersii {Includes
the forma viridifolia and the var. rakotozafyi}
Euphorbia cylindrifolia
{Includes the ssp. tuberifera}
Euphorbia decaryi {Includes the vars.ampanihyensis, robinsonii and spirosticha}
Euphorbia francoisii
Euphorbia moratii {Includes the vars.antsingiensis, bemarahensis and multiflora}
Euphorbia parvicyathophora
Euphorbia quartziticola
Euphorbia tulearensis
FOUQUIERIACEAE - Fouquieria fasciculata
Fouquieria purpusii
LEGUMINOSAE (FABACEAE) - Dalbergia nigra
LILIACEAE - Aloe
albida
Aloe albiflora
Aloe alfredii
Aloe bakeri
Aloe bellatula
Aloe calcairophila
Aloe compressa {Includes the
vars.paucituberculata, rugosquamosa
and schistophila}
Aloe delphinensis
Aloe descoingsii
Aloe fragilis
Aloe haworthioides
{Includes the var. aurantiaca}
Aloe helenae
Aloe laeta {Includes the var.
maniaensis}
Aloe parallelifolia
Aloe parvula
Aloe pillansii
Aloe polyphylla
Aloe rauhii
Aloe suzannae
Aloe versicolor
Aloe vossii
NEPENTHACEAE - Nepenthes
khasiana
Nepenthes rajah
ORCHIDACEAE - Aerangis
ellisii
Cattleya jongheana
Cattleya lobata
Dendrobium cruentum
Mexipedium xerophyticum
Paphiopedilum spp.
Peristeria elata
Phragmipedium spp.
Renanthera imschootiana
PALMAE (ARECACEAE) - Dypsis decipiens
PINACEAE - Abies
guatemalensis
PODOCARPACEAE - Podocarpus parlatorei
RUBIACEAE - Balmea
stormiae
SARRACENIACEAE - Sarracenia oreophila
Sarracenia rubra ssp. alabamensis
Sarracenia rubra ssp. jonesii
STANGERIACEAE - Stangeria eriopus
ZAMIACEAE - Ceratozamia
spp.
Encephalartos spp.
Microcycas calocoma
Zamia restrepoi
Appendix II:
Species
listed in Appendix II are not necessarily currently threatened with extinction
but may become so if trade is not regulated. International trade in these
species is allowed, but it is subject to certain controls and permits to ensure
sustainability.
Currently
the following plant species are listed in Appendix II.
AGAVACEAE - Agave
victoriae-reginae
Nolina interrata
AMARYLLIDACEAE- Yucca queretaroensis
Galanthus
spp.
Sternbergia
spp.
ANACARDIACEAE - Operculicarya decaryi
Operculicarya hyphaenoides
Operculicarya pachypus
APOCYNACEAE - Hoodia
spp.
Pachypodium spp. (Except
the species included in Appendix I)
Rauvolfia serpentina
ARALIACEAE - Panax
ginseng (Only the population of the Russian Federation; no
other
population is included in the Appendices)
Panax quinquefolius
ASPARAGACEAE - Beaucarnea
spp
BERBERIDACEAE - Podophyllum hexandrum
BIGNONIACEAE -
Handroanthus spp.
Roseodendron spp
Tabebuia spp
BROMELIACEAE - Tillandsia
harrisii
Tillandsia
kammii
Tillandsia
xerographica
CACTACEAE - Cactaceae
spp.(Except the species included in Appendix I and
Pereskia spp., Pereskiopsis spp. and Quiabentia
spp. which are not included in the
Appendices)
CARYOCARACEAE - Caryocar costaricense
CRASSULACEAE - Rhodiola spp
CUCURBITACEAE - Zygosicyos pubescens
Zygosicyos tripartitus
CUPRESSACEAE
- Widdringtonia whytei
CYATHEACEAE- Cyathea
spp.
CYCADACEAE - Cycadaceae spp. (Except the species
included in Appendix I)
Cibotium barometz
Dicksonia spp. (Only the populations of
the Americas; no other population is included in the Appendices)
DIDIEREACEAE - Didireaceae spp.
DIOSCOREACEAE - Dioscorea deltoidea
DROSERACEAE - Dionaea muscipula
EBENACEAE - Diospyros spp. (Only the populations of
Madagascar; no other
population
is included in the Appendices)
EUPHORBIACEAE - Euphorbia
spp. (Succulent species only, except the species
included
in Appendix I and Euphorbia misera which is not included in
the
Appendices)
FOUQUIERIACEAE - Fouquieria
columnaris
JUGLANDACEAE - Oreomunnea
pterocarpa
LAURACEAE - Aniba
rosaeodora
LEGUMINOSAE
(FABACEAE) - Afzelia spp. (Only the African populations; no
other
population
is included in the Appendices)
Dalbergia
spp. (Except for the species included in Appendix I)
Dipteryx
spp.
Guibourtia
demeusei
Guibourtia
pellegriniana
Guibourtia
tessmannii
Paubrasilia
echinata
Pericopsis
elata
Platymiscium
parviflorum
Pterocarpus
spp. (Except Pterocarpus santalinus which is included in
Appendix II
with
annotation ; only the African populations; no other population is included in
the
Appendices)
Pterocarpus
santalinus
Senna
meridionalis
LILIACEAE
- Aloe spp. (Except the species included in Appendix I and
Aloe vera,
also
referenced as Aloe barbadensis, which is not included in the
Appendices)
MALVACEAE - Adansonia
grandidieri
MELIACEAE
- Cedrela spp. (Only the populations of the
Neotropics; no other
population
is included in the Appendices)
Khaya spp. (Only
the African populations; no other population is included in the
Appendices)
Swietenia
humilis
Swietenia
macrophylla (Only the populations of the Neotropics; no
other population
is
included in the Appendices)
Swietenia
mahagoni
NEPENTHACEAE - Nepenthes
spp. (Except the species included in Appendix I)
ORCHIDACEAE
- Orchidaceae spp. (Except the species included in
Appendix I)
OROBANCHACEAE
- Cistanche deserticola
PALMAE
(ARECACEAE) - Beccariophoenix madagascariensis
Dypsis
decaryi
Lemurophoenix
halleuxii
Marojejya
darianii
Ravenea
louvelii
Ravenea
rivularis
Satranala
decussilvae
Voanioala
gerardii
PASSIFLORACEAE
- Adenia firingalavensis
Adenia
olaboensis
Adenia
subsessilifolia
PEDALIACEAE - Uncarina
grandidieri
Uncarina
stellulifera
PORTULACACEAE
- Anacampseros spp.
Avonia
spp.
Lewisia
serrata
PRIMULACEAE - Cyclamen
spp.
RANUNCULACEAE
- Adonis vernalis
Hydrastis
canadensis
ROSACEAE
- Prunus Africana
SANTALACEAE
- Osyris lanceolata (Only the populations of
Burundi, Ethiopia,
Kenya,
Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania; no other population
is
included in the Appendices)
SARRACENIACEAE
- Sarracenia spp. (Except the species included in Appendix I)
SCROPHULARIACEAE
- Picrorhiza kurrooa {Excludes Picrorhiza
scrophulariiflora}
STANGERIACEAE
- Bowenia spp
TAXACEAE
- Taxus chinensis {Includes infraspecific taxa of this species}
Taxus
cuspidata {Includes infraspecific taxa of this species}
Taxus
fuana {Includes infraspecific taxa of this species}
Taxus
sumatrana {Includes infraspecific taxa of this species}
Taxus
wallichiana
THYMELAEACEAE
(AQUILARIACEAE) - Aquilaria spp.
Gonystylus
spp.
Gyrinops
spp.
VALERIANACEAE
- Nardostachys grandiflora
VITACEAE
- Cyphostemma elephantopus
Cyphostemma
laza
Cyphostemma
montagnacii
WELWITSCHIACEAE
- Welwitschia mirabilis
ZAMIACEAE - Zamiaceae
spp. (Except the species included in Appendix I)
ZINGIBERACEAE - Hedychium
philippinense
Siphonochilus
aethiopicus (Only the populations of Eswatini,
Mozambique, South
Africa
and Zimbabwe; no other population is included in the Appendices)
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE - Bulnesia
sarmientoi
Guaiacum
spp.
Appendix III:
Species
listed in Appendix III are included at the request of a CITES member country
that needs assistance in controlling international trade in a particular
species. This listing is typically made to protect species within the country's
jurisdiction.
Currently 28 plant species are
listed in Appendix III .
History of CITES:
The
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) is an international treaty established to regulate and control the
international trade of endangered species. Here is a brief history of CITES:
1.
Formation (1973): The idea for CITES was first proposed in the early
1960s during a meeting of the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN). The concept gained momentum, and in March 1973, a meeting of 80
countries in Washington, D.C., resulted in the adoption of the text for CITES.
2. Entry
into Force (1975): CITES officially entered into force on July 1,
1975. The treaty aimed to address the escalating threats to certain species due
to international trade, particularly in wildlife and plants.
3.
Objectives: The primary objectives of CITES are to ensure that
international trade does not threaten the survival of species, to promote
sustainable trade, and to prevent the exploitation of endangered species for
commercial purposes.
4.
Appendices (1975): CITES categorizes species into three appendices,
each providing a different level of protection. Appendix I includes species
threatened with extinction, and international trade in these species is
generally prohibited. Appendices II and III provide varying degrees of
protection, with trade regulated through permits.
5.
Amendments and Conferences of the Parties (COP): CITES is
a dynamic treaty that evolves to address new challenges. The Parties to CITES
meet regularly at Conferences of the Parties to review and adjust the
appendices, discuss amendments, and make decisions on issues related to the
conservation of endangered species.
6.
Successes and Challenges: Over the years, CITES has been instrumental in
regulating the international trade of numerous species, thereby contributing to
their conservation. However, challenges persist, including issues of illegal
wildlife trade and the need for international cooperation to combat these
activities.
7.
Enforcement and Implementation: CITES relies on the cooperation of member
countries to enforce its regulations. National authorities in each member
country are responsible for implementing and enforcing CITES rules within their
jurisdictions.
8. CITES
Secretariat: The CITES Secretariat, based in Geneva,
Switzerland, serves as the focal point for the treaty's administration. It
facilitates communication among member countries and provides support for the
implementation of CITES decisions.
CITES has
played a crucial role in the global conservation effort by regulating the
international trade of endangered species, and its work continues to be vital
in addressing the challenges facing biodiversity around the world.
CITES and
India: What is the Scenario?
India is
one of the recognized mega-diverse countries of the world,
harbouring nearly 7-8% of the recorded species of the world,
and representing 4 of the 34 globally identified
biodiversity hotspots (Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats and
Sri Lanka, Sundaland).
India is
also a vast repository of traditional knowledge associated with
biological resources. So far, over 91,200 species of animals and
45,500 species of plants have been documented in the ten biogeographic regions
of the country.
Inventories
of floral and faunal diversities are being progressively updated with several
new discoveries through the conduct of continuous surveys and
exploration.
India has
been a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1976. The country is periodically involved
in the meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COP) where decisions are made
regarding the listing and regulation of international trade in endangered
species.
India has
proposed to remove rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo) from Appendix II of
CITES. The species grows at a very fast rate and has the capacity to become
naturalised outside its native range, it is invasive in other parts of the
world as well.
The
regulation of trade in the species is not necessary to avoid it becoming
eligible for inclusion in Appendix I in the near future.
India has
also proposed to transfer small clawed otters (Aonyx
cinereus), smooth coated otters (Lutrogale
perspicillata), Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone
elegans) from Appendix II to Appendix I, thereby giving
more protection to the species.
The
proposal also includes inclusion of Gekko gecko and Wedgefish (Rhinidae)
in Appendix II of CITES.
The Gekko
gecko is traded highly for Chinese traditional medicine.
Concept
of COP:
In the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES), "COP" stands for the Conference of the Parties. The COP is a
central decision-making body that convenes periodically to discuss and make
decisions on issues related to the implementation and enforcement of the CITES
treaty. Here are key aspects of the concept of COP in CITES:
1.
Purpose: The primary purpose of the Conference of the
Parties is to bring together representatives from member countries (Parties) to
review the progress, effectiveness, and challenges of CITES implementation. It
serves as a forum for discussions, negotiations, and decision-making on matters
related to the conservation and sustainable use of endangered species.
2.
Frequency: COP meetings are typically held every three years,
although the exact interval can vary. During these meetings, member countries,
as well as observer organizations and other stakeholders, come together to
discuss and address various issues related to the trade and conservation of
wildlife.
3.
Decision-Making: The decisions made at the COP are crucial for
the functioning of CITES. These decisions may include amendments to the
appendices (listing or delisting species), adoption of resolutions, approval of
the budget, and consideration of reports from the CITES Secretariat and other
relevant bodies.
4.
Agenda: The agenda for each COP meeting is extensive and covers a wide
range of topics, including:
- Consideration of proposals to amend the appendices.
- Review of the status of species listed in the appendices.
- Discussion of issues related to the implementation of CITES by member countries.
- Examination of reports from the CITES Secretariat and other bodies.
5.
Participation: Member countries, as well as non-member
countries, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), participate in the COP meetings. The participation of observer
organizations allows for a broad and inclusive discussion on wildlife
conservation and trade issues.
6.
Secretariat Support: The CITES Secretariat provides support to the
COP, facilitating the organization of meetings, preparing documents, and
assisting in the implementation of decisions made during the conference.
7.
Amendments and Resolutions: The COP has the authority to amend the CITES
appendices, adopt resolutions, and make decisions that guide the implementation
of the convention. Decisions made at the COP are binding on the member
countries.
The
Conference of the Parties plays a crucial role in shaping the policies and
actions of CITES, contributing to the conservation of endangered species and
the regulation of international trade to ensure sustainability.
To
enhance your understanding, it is recommended that you explore the links
provided below.
https://cites.org/eng/news/calendar.php
https://cites.org/eng/meetings/cop
