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Monitoring The UN > The UN and Sustainable Development United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) March 1973: CITES is opened for signature The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed on 3 march 1973 at the Washington Conference in Washington D.C. The previous year, participating nations at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment called for the preparation of a international agreement for the protection of endangered species from illegal trade (see recommendation No.99 (3)). The Convention was amended in Bonn in June 1979 with the amendments coming into effect in 1987. Further amendments were proposed in 1983 but these have yet to come into effect. The Convention is a milestone for the protection of endangered species and for global biodiversity conservation worldwide. The transportation of live species of wild plants and animals has become increasingly sophisticated and as a result, trade has become a major factor in the decline of species. Trade in wild plant and animal parts is also a very lucrative business putting significant pressure on certain populations (the ivory trade of African elephant tusks being a case in point). CITES stands as a unique Convention. It focuses specifically on trade of endangered species; it defends the contrasting interests of wildlife conservation and trade; and requires the coordination of a complex number of legislations and regulations both at the international and national level. “For more than a quarter of a century, CITES has proven itself to be one of the most effective tools we have for preventing species extinction” Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora regulates the trade of wild species through a permit system. The permit system is based on the status of species. The Convention maintains three lists of species known as Appendix I, II and III. Specific regulations for each list are applied for the import and export of endangered species. Designated national Scientific and Management Authorities are mandated to issue export and import permits.
Species found in each Appendix are subject to change. Proposals for amendments of Appendix I and II are brought forth at meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and require a majority of two-third of the votes to be accepted. Working Structure of CITES CITES is administered by UNEP. The Secretariat, the administrative body of the Convention, is composed of employees mandated to help Parties implement the Convention through the recommendations of the Conference of the Parties and the Standing Committee. The Secretariat is also involved in training and the development of information material. The Standing Committee consists’ of regional sub-group of Member Parties to the Convention. The Standing Committee represents the parties between COPs and is actively involved in executive functions relating to the Convention. Additional committees are set up to gather information and conduct research on species. The Animal, Plant, and Identification Committees report to the Standing Committee and the Secretariat, who work closely together between COP meetings. Member Parties, totaling 150 as of 1999, meet every two years. Secretariat's Work Programme The work priorities of the Secretariat are jointly determined by the Convention itself, the COP and by the Standing Committee. Article XII of the Convention details the functions of the Secretariat. Priority has been accorded to capacity building, legislation to implement the Convention and significant trade studies. Numerous initiatives are underway in these areas. Some of the key initiatives are listed and summarized below. Review of appendices - species lists A process was initiated to review the Conventions’ appendices. The Animal Committee has begun its review in1999 at its 15th meeting and the Plant Committee initiated the review at its eighth meeting in 1997. Species found in the Appendices were initially added without any requirement for extensive biological information to justify their inclusion. However, since 1997, criteria have been identified to evaluate the addition of species and to correct existing listings for both fauna and flora (see resolution 9.24). National Legislation Project Initiated in 1992, the objectives of the National Legislation Project are to review domestic legislation and analyze the capacity of countries to implement and enforce all aspects of the Convention. Unique to the CITES Convention, the National Legislation Project enables a clear procedure for the review and evaluation of domestic measures to implement the Convention. Over 133 Countries have had their legislation reviewed and each has been ranked in one of three categories to reflect the degree to which its legislation meets the requirements of the Convention. Legal Capacity-building Strategy To support the National Legislation Project, the Secretariat has prepared a legal capacity-building strategy with the objective of assisting Parties in implementing and enforcing the Convention and thus enabling the National Legislation Project to expand into the next century. Various documents have been prepared to help countries implement CITES, including a checklist for reviewing CITES legislation and a Model Law for the implementation of CITES. CITES Key Partners On 8 October 1999, CITES and IUCN (World Conservation Union) signed an agreement for mutual co-operation that sets out provisions for scientific information, development and implementation of field projects and scientific and technical advisory services. A similar agreement for co-operative arrangements was signed on 3 November 1999 between CITES and TRAFFIC - the joint wildlife trade-monitoring programme of WWF-World Wide Fund for Nature and IUCN. Through this agreement they will work towards capacity-building for CITES. Species Related Initiatives In 1997, at the COP 10 meeting held in Harare, Zimbabwe, - Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe put forth the proposal to change the protected status of elephants from Appendix I to II leading to the resumption of limited trade in ivory. A one-time experimental sale of existing ivory stocks of Some 13.8 tonnes and 20 tonnes from Namibia and Zimbabwe respectively, were sold to Japan with the provision that funds raised by the sale be used to support conservation and community development projects in the two African countries. At COP 11 in 2000, the three countries with the addition of South Africa again proposed the sale of elephant products. African countries however reached a consensus to keep to zero the Ivory trade quota. Elephant populations of Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe however remained in Appendix II with the addition of the South African population downlisted from Appendix I. This now legalizes trade in live animals, hunting trophies, hides and leather goods for these elephant populations. The conservation of African elephants and the restriction of ivory trade is a complex issue that CITES will continue to tackle for many years. A system to monitor the illegal killing of elephants (MIKE) was proposed at COP 10 in 1997. Records of seizures or confiscation of elephant specimens is gathered in a database system develop by TRAFFIC called the elephant trade information system (ETIS). MIKE and ETIS are two significant species-specific initiatives overseen by the Secretariat to monitor and manage trade in wildlife. Other species have mobilized debates within CITES over the years. Whales and the issue of whaling is one of these. The highly threatened status of tigers and rhinoceros are also a focus of attention. Proposals by Parties to amend Appendices I and II as well as more details on specific projects of the Secretariat can be found at CITES website. "If not managed sustainably, wildlife trade has the potential to put some species at risk of extinction and to contribute to the loss of biodiversity throughout the world" David Anderson, Canadian Minister of the Environment Canada has been a Party to CITES since 1975. As required by the Convention, Canada has identified the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) as the Management and Scientific Authority to oversee the implementation of the Convention in Canada along with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for fish and mammals. Because provinces in Canada have authority over the management of certain species, management authority is also found in each province and territory. The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) “The purpose of WAPPRIITA is to protect Canadian and foreign species of animals and plants that may be at risk of over-exploitation because of poaching or illegal trade, and to safeguard Canadian ecosystems from the introduction of species designated as harmful” 1997 Report on the Implementation of WAPPRIITA The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA), is the legal instrument for the implementation of CITES in Canada. First passed in 1992, the Act was proclaimed on 14 May 1996 after regulations were developed, in consultation with provinces and territories, to guide the implementation of the Act. In addition to the CWS, acting as the main administrators of the Act, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) assists the CWS in processing documentation on artificially propagated plants already controlled through the Plant Protection Act, and Revenue Canada, the RCMP, DFO and provincial and territorial agencies are involved in the enforcement of the Act. WAPPRITA consolidates and replaces Acts that were already in place to regulate wildlife trade. Among these are the Export and Import Permits Act (EPIA) and the Game Export Act. The Act has two major strengths: it consolidates all other trade regulations at the federal and provincial level and therefore increases efficiency. It also offers protection to all wild plant and animal species in Canada beyond those found in CITES Appendices. Memorandums of Understandings (MOUs) have been signed with most provinces. These MOUs outline the roles and responsibilities of each party with regards to the granting of permits, enforcement and provisions for scientific information. Agreements were reached with Saskatchewan and the Yukon Territory in 1997 and with Manitoba, Alberta and the Northwest Territories in 1998. All import permits are issued exclusively by Environment Canada and export permits can be granted by the provinces and, for fish and marine mammals, Fisheries and Oceans. The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) and its regulations have three main objectives:
Not unlike the Convention itself, the Wild Animal Plant Trade Regulation under WAPPRIITA identifies three distinct categories of wild plant and animal species with different trade control measures.
Examples of Canadian Species Found in CITES Appendices
Appendix I
Appendix II
Appendix III In Canada, Ontario is the province issuing the greatest quantity of export permits. Black bears account for the majority of export permits issued in Canada, largely because foreign hunters wish to bring trophies back to their home country. The Black bear is listed in Appendix II of CITES because of its “look-alike” quality to other bear species threatened in other parts of the world. While Black bear populations in Canada are healthy, unregulated trade of this Canadian Species could endanger those threatened by potentially creating confusion in species identification and therefore encouraging illegal trade. Initiatives in Canada In order to inform the Canadian public of WAPPRITA, numerous projects have been carried out including displays in airports, zoos and other public places; information sessions to school groups, hunting clubs and commercial importers; and newspaper articles, press releases and media interviews. In 1997, training of all of Environment Canada's enforcement officers was completed and regional enforcement officers from different governmental agencies also received training. Canada's Cooperative Relationship at Home and Internationally As a Party to the Convention, Canada participates by sending a delegation to COP meetings held every two years. Members of the delegation include representatives from Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Fisheries and Oceans, Natural Resources Canada (Canadian Forest Service) and provincial representatives. Daily meetings are organized during COP meetings between the Canadian delegation and the participating Canadian non-governmental organizations. Canada works with non-governmental organizations such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and others, to provide information to the public on CITES and other wildlife trade issues. Canada works with the United States and Mexico through the North American Wildlife Working Group, to enforce and coordinate the efforts of each country at the national level to control trade and ensure efficient enforcement of the regulations. The Working Group works to enhance wildlife protection by sharing information, providing training opportunities for enforcement officers, and networking with other interested groups. Canada's Species at Risk Act Canada has committed itself since 1992 with the signature of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to protect species at risks. In 1996 an Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk was drafted. The strategy developed by Canada for the introduction of a new Species at Risk Act is to: first build partnerships with Provinces and Territories and second promote stewardship and incentive programmes in order to engage landowners, Aboriginal Peoples and other stakeholders that would be more directly affected by the Act. The Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA) was tabled in the House of Commons on 11 April 2000. It addresses species at risk in Canada from any source such as habitat loss or harvesting pressures. This distinguishes SARA from CITES which is international and deals with species at risk specifically due to trade. UN Links
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