CITES: a hope for conservation of endangered species

N Munal Meitei *

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Widespread information nowadays about the endangered status of many prominent species, such as the royal tiger and elephants, might make the need for such a convention seem obvious. But at the time when the ideas for CITES were first formed, in the 1960s, international discussion of the regulation of wildlife trade for conservation purposes was something relatively new. With hindsight, the need for CITES is clear.

Annually, international wildlife trade is estimated to be worth billions of dollars and to include hundreds of millions of plant and animal specimens. The illegal wild life trade is the third largest crime in the world in terms of volume and number just after the smuggling crime of weapon and the drugs.

The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals and plants to a vast array of wildlife products derived from them, including food products, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, timber, tourist curios and medicines Levels of exploitation of some animal and plant species are high and the trade in them, together with other factors, such as habitat loss, is capable of heavily depleting their populations and even bringing some species close to extinction. Many wildlife species in trade are not endangered, but the existence of an agreement to ensure the sustainability of the trade is important in order to safeguard these resources for the future.

Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. CITES was conceived in the spirit of such cooperation. In the line United Kingdom has banned auction of Ivory in their country Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 33,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.

CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of I UCN (The World Conservation Union). The text of the Convention was finally agreed at a meeting of representatives of 80 countries in Washington DC., United States of America, on 3 March 1973, and on 1 July 1975 CITES entered in force. For many years CITES has been among the conservation agreements with the largest membership, with now 175 countries (Parties).

CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-exports and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. Each Party to the Convention must designate one or more Management Authorities in charge of administering that licensing system and one or more Scientific Authorities to advise them on the effects of trade on the status of the species. The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.

Appendix I include species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. In Appendix I, there are about 800 species that are threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by trade. Trade in wild-caught specimens of these species is illegal. Trade of captive bred animals or cultivated plants of Appendix I species are considered Appendix II specimens, with concomitant requirements.

Any trade in these species requires export and import permits. The Management Authority of the exporting state is expected to check that an import permit has been secured and that the importing state is able to care for the specimen adequately. Notable animal species include the red panda (Aluris fulgenis), gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), the chimpanzee species (Pan spp.), tigers (Panthera tigris subspecies), Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), leopards (Panthera pardus), Jagua {Panthera onea), Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), some populations of African Elephant (Loxodonta africana), the dugong and manatees (Sirenia), and all Rhinoceros species (except some Southern African subspecies populations).

Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. Appendixes II, there are about 32,500 species, which are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so unless trade in specimens of such species is subject to strict regulation in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.

In addition, International trades in specimens of Appendix II species may be authorized by the granting of an export permit or re-export certificate. No import permit is necessary for these species under CITES. A non-detriment finding and export permit are required by the exporting Party.

Examples of species listed on Appendix II are the American black bear (Ursus americanus), Hartmann's mountain zebra (Equus hartmannae), African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), green iguana (Iguana iguana), queen conch (Eustrombus gigas), Mertens' Water Monitor (Varanus mertens!), big leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and Lignum Vitae "ironwood" (Guaiacum officina/e).

This Appendix contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. Changes to Appendix III follow a distinct procedure from changes to Appendices I and II, as each Party's is entitled to make unilateral amendments to it. Appendixes III, about 170 species, are species that are listed after one member country has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling trade in a species.

The species are not necessarily threatened with extinction globally. In all member countries trade in these species is only permitted with an appropriate export permit and a certificate of origin. Examples of species are the two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) by Costa Rica, African civet (Civettictis civetta) by Botswana, and the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckil) by the USA.

A specimen of a CITES-listed species may be imported into or exported (or re-exported) from a State party to the Convention only if the appropriate document has been obtained and presented for clearance at the port of entry or exit.

When the government of a State decides that it will be bound by the provisions of CITES, it can 'join' the Convention by making a formal declaration to this effect in writing to the Depositary Government, which is the Government of Switzerland. Once a document containing this declaration has been received by the Depositary, through the diplomatic channel, the Convention enters into force for the State concerned 90 days later.

Amendments to the Convention must be supported by a two-thirds majority and can be made during an extraordinary meeting of the COP (Conference of the Parties), if one-third of the Parties are interested in such a meeting. The Gaborone Amendment (1983) allows regional economic blocs to accede to the treaty. Trade with non-Party states is allowed, although permits and certificates are recommended to be issued by exporters and sought by importers.

General limitations about the structure and philosophy of CITES include: by design and intent it focuses on trade at the species level and does not address habitat loss, ecosystem approaches to conservation, or poverty; it seeks to prevent unsustainable use rather than promote sustainable use which generally conflicts with the Convention on Biological Diversity, although this has been changing e.g. Nile Crocodile, African elephant, South African white rhino case studies in Hutton and Dickinson 2000. It does not explicitly address market demand. Funding does not provide for increased on-the-ground enforcement.

While many developing countries have been eager to join CITES, the annual costs of staffing and maintaining a CITES office and an effective presence at the biennial CoP gatherings remain unaffordable for many signatory nations. Moreover, the CITES Secretariat itself is largely dependent on signatories' offices for determinations on whether the trade in a given species is "non-detrimental."

The Suggestions for improvement in the operation of CITES include: more regular missions by the Secretariat; improvement of national legislation and enforcement; the development of CITES Action Plans (asking to Biodiversity Action Plans related to the Convention on Biological Diversity); incentives for reporting and timelines for both Action Plans and reporting.

Though there is CITES of strong 175 parties, we are not in the position to save the species included in the Appendixes. In India, who becomes the party of CITES on the 18th of October 1976, two tiger reserves - Panna in MP and Sariska in Rajasthan - are now bereft of tigers (Panthera tigris tigris).

The other seven tiger reserves may well follow in their footsteps if urgent measures are not taken up. They are Buxa reserve in West Bengal, Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh, Manas in Assam, Valmiki in Bihar, Simlipal in Orissa, Indravati in Chhattisgarh and Palamu in Jharkhand. In 2006, at the time of the last estimate, India's tiger population was 1,411.

Since then, about 100 tigers have died because of poaching, natural reasons and man-animal conflict. Therefore the country needs the maximum stress in the line of CITES for conservation of our National animal. Only one species protected by CITES, the Spix's Macaw ( Cynopsitta spixii ), a sub species of parrot, in Bahia state of Brazil which nests on Caraibeira plant ( Tabebuia aurea), has become extinct in the wild as a result of trade since the Convention entered into force but now in captivity around 73 birds survived.

The fates of many such CITES Appendix species in the world are more the less same. Manipur being a border state has also records of much smuggling for the items included in CITES. Since Law & order being a state subject, the state of Manipur needs much new legislation for safety of the CITES items.

The trade of Red sanders Wood (Ptereocarpus santalinus) in the state which is included in CITES lists needs to be curtained at the shortest time. Our state being in the 5 Hot spots of the world in the eastern Himalayas, are very rich in various Biodiversity.

Many invaluable medicinal plant species are siphoning each day from our state to the neighboring countries without a restriction. These species may include Shingpan (Paris polifaila) and other numerous Orchids. Therefore we also should take much care of CITES items at our top priority for the safeguard of our future generation.