key term - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Definition

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement that aims to regulate and restrict the international trade of wild animals and plants that are threatened with extinction. It establishes a framework for countries to work together to prevent the overexploitation of species through commercial trade.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. CITES was adopted in 1973 and currently has 183 member countries, making it one of the largest international environmental agreements in existence.
2. The treaty classifies endangered species into three appendices based on the degree of protection they require, with Appendix I listing the most threatened species.
3. CITES regulates the international trade of listed species by requiring permits and certificates for the import, export, and re-export of specimens.
4. Enforcement of CITES is carried out by national authorities, with violators facing penalties such as fines or imprisonment.
5. The treaty has been credited with helping to prevent the extinction of several high-profile species, such as the African elephant and the black rhinoceros.

Review Questions

• Explain the purpose and key objectives of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
  • The primary purpose of CITES is to regulate and restrict the international trade of wild animals and plants that are threatened with extinction. Its key objectives are to prevent the overexploitation of these species through commercial trade, and to ensure that international trade in wildlife is sustainable and does not threaten the survival of endangered species. CITES establishes a framework for countries to work together to achieve these goals, by requiring permits and certificates for the import, export, and re-export of listed species.
• Describe the different levels of protection provided by the three CITES appendices and how they are used to manage international trade in endangered species.
  • CITES classifies endangered species into three appendices based on the degree of protection they require. Appendix I lists the most threatened species, for which commercial trade is generally prohibited. Appendix II includes species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so if their trade is not regulated. Appendix III consists of species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES parties for assistance in controlling the trade. The different appendices allow CITES to tailor the trade regulations to the specific conservation needs of each species, providing a flexible and comprehensive system for managing international wildlife trade.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of CITES in achieving its goal of preventing the extinction of endangered species through the regulation of international trade.
  • CITES has been generally successful in achieving its goal of preventing the extinction of endangered species through the regulation of international trade. The treaty has been credited with helping to prevent the extinction of several high-profile species, such as the African elephant and the black rhinoceros. However, the effectiveness of CITES has been limited by challenges such as inadequate enforcement, the illegal trade in wildlife, and the difficulty of addressing the underlying drivers of species decline, such as habitat loss and climate change. Nonetheless, CITES remains a crucial international agreement that has played a significant role in the global effort to conserve endangered species and promote sustainable wildlife trade.

Related terms

Endangered Species: A species that is at risk of extinction in the wild, facing a high risk of disappearing from its natural habitat in the near future.

International Trade: The exchange of goods and services across international borders, involving the movement of resources, capital, and information between countries.

Wildlife Conservation: The practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and their habitats in order to maintain healthy, diverse, and sustainable ecosystems.