CITES 2007
With 171 countries, 2,000 delegates and two weeks in a room, the future of the world’s most vulnerable wild animals is on the line and Born Free is fighting for their protection.
On 2nd June 2007, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES – ‘sigh-teas’) meets in The Hague, Netherlands. From our Spring Appeal, highlighting the challenges facing elephants, sharks and leopards, you already know this is quite simply the biggest and most important wildlife meeting for years. It is my intention, thanks to the generosity of our amazing donors, members and supporters, to use all the resources at our disposal to bring added protection to threatened species and fight proposals that harm wildlife.
Putting wildlife first
Countless species cling perilously to existence, struggling to survive in the face of habitat destruction, human population growth, persecution, hunting, and international trade in animals, their parts, and derivatives.
One Treaty, CITES, serves as a global safety net to protect species threatened from this trade, a multi-billion pound industry. Originally signed in Washington, DC in 1973, the Treaty now boasts membership from 171 nations (‘Parties’). CITES is not an endangered species list per se, but imposes a complex regulatory structure to stem the precipitous decline of species affected by unsustainable levels of international trade. Species on CITES Appendix I are species for which any commercial trade could spell extinction. There is no commercial trafficking in these species, but approved international shipments, including live animals for zoos or trophy-hunted specimens, can occur. Species on Appendix II can be traded commercially, subject to strict monitoring.
But listing species is only half the battle. Once listed, Parties must enforce the Convention. This requires commitment from the highest levels of government down to the wildlife wardens in the field, who risk their lives on conservation’s front line. It also requires financial commitment; underfunded wildlife law enforcement agencies are often overwhelmed by highly organised and well-financed poachers and smugglers. In June thousands of delegates will convene in The Hague. African elephants, leopards, bobcats, timber species, sharks, and coral are among the species whose future will be debated together with issues such as the burgeoning wildlife internet trade, transport of live animals, breeding of wildlife for trade, and enforcement. The decisions Parties take will define global wildlife trade for the remainder of the decade. These are life and death issues and delegates should take a precautionary approach.
Gambling with the world’s plant and animal species could mean extinction for the losers.
Will Travers
Born Free’s Chief Executive & President of the SSN;
You can help
We need to raise £25,000 to fight for elephants, leopards, sharks and more at CITES. Your gift will help make this happen. Call 01403 240170 or visit this link.
Check out the latest CITES updates in Will's blog
¹The SSN is a coalition of more than 80 wildlife organisations working within CITES to reduce the impact of international trade. Born Free helped establish the SSN in 1993 and since then Will Travers has been chair of the Board.
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