The CITES Convention and trade in animals and plants

Is the CITES a success? The CITES Convention has the undisputed merit of bringing together almost the entire global community in the attempt to protect endangered species by restricting trade therein. It obliged all parties to set up specific scientific and administrative authorities for the protection and monitoring of endangered species. The annual and bi-annual reports, though often sent with delays, oblige the states to give account of activities on their territory; requirements of export and import permits for the most endangered species allows a sort of cross-checking, whether the information transmitted was complete and correct. And legal trade in Appendix I species largely came to a halt.

Overall, the division of species into three Appendices was successful, though discussions on classifications were and are not always free from political considerations. During the lifetime of CITES, 84 species - including 34 mammal populations, 20 plants and 19 reptiles - were moved from Appendix I to Appendix II which means in practice that the parties to the Convention could accept a relaxation of the degree of protection. This shows that the strict regulation of trade, as required for Appendix I-species, may help endangered species to recover, and transfers to Appendix II may at the same time enable local communities to benefit from sustainable trade in such species.

The CITES is also successful in establishing cooperation with numerous international organisations - ITTO, FAO, ICCWC etc. - and national governments, non-governmental organisations, research institutes in the attempt to better enforce the provisions of the Convention, to protect endangered species, improve local capacities and increase awareness of the public in general. Its networking with police and customs authorities all over the world improves efficiency in the highly globalised fight against wildlife trafficking. The challenge of illegal trade remains, though, and will, together with the other challenges on biodiversity, require active and even increased efforts by the CITES and other organisations to fight illegal wildlife trafficking.