CITES CoP19 – NOVEMBER 2022 Q&A

WHAT IS CITES?

CITES stands for ‘Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora’. In essence, it is an agreement between governments, established in the early 1970s, whose purpose is to regulate international trade in wild animals and plants (including trees), with the express purpose of ensuring that trade does not threaten their survival.

This regulation happens through the placement of species on one of three lists (or Appendices) which have differing levels of protection and requirements for international trade to take place. Once a species is listed, most of the work of the Convention from thereon in is focused on all the issues involved in implementing those listings, and what additional work may be required to address the needs of those species as they relate to international trade.

There are currently 184 country members of CITES (known as Parties) – representing the vast majority of the world’s Governments – which have agreed to abide by what is decided at CITES meetings. Governments are legally bound to implement the Convention’s Articles, and failure to do so can lead to sanctions being imposed, rendering a country unable to import or export CITES-listed species.

WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED DURING 14TH – 25TH NOVEMBER?

Every three years CITES has a two-week-long meeting, called the Conference of Parties (or CoP for short), which is the main decision-making body of the Convention. Its 19th such meeting takes place this November in Panama City, and much will be at stake – for the industry that profits from international wildlife trade, for governments themselves and, of course, for the species being deliberated over.

Under consideration will be 52 proposals to list almost 600 species on the Appendices for the first time, or to change their listing from one Appendix to another. These proposals involve marine species such as sharks and rays; more than 200 tree species; reptiles such as crocodiles, caimans and lizards; iconic mammals including rhinos, elephants and hippos; turtles, frogs and several species of fish; and all species of orchids.

There are also some 150 so-called ‘working documents’ which will cover many varied matters relating to species already listed on the Appendices, from how the Convention’s rules are implemented and whether certain countries should be penalised for failing to implement them, to strategic issues such as the role CITES should play in reducing the risk of future pandemics emerging from traded wild animals.

WHAT IS BORN FREE’S POSITION ON KEY ISSUES?

With such a vast agenda Born Free will be focusing on priority issues and species such as:

• The role of CITES in pandemic prevention – as the international wildlife trade regulator, CITES has a clear role to play as the keeping, breeding, transporting and trade of wildlife involves some key risk factors in the emergence of pathogens from wildlife. There will be a Resolution being put forward in order to ensure that countries address this through a precautionary, One Health approach to wildlife trade. (One Health recognizes the interconnectedness between people, wildlife and their shared environment)
• Trade in wild caught African elephants – this has been an ongoing issue within CITES for a number of years, and Born Free will be working to ensure that CoP19 decides to only allow the export of wild caught elephants to conservation programmes and secure areas within the species’ natural and historical range. There are also two listing proposals, both concerning the populations of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, one to decrease protection from trade, and one to increase it.
• Rhinos – two proposals seek to weaken the current CITES protections from trade. One would see the rhino population of Namibia subject to trade in live animals and hunting trophies without key safeguards, while Eswatini (former Swaziland) seeks to sell 330kg of stockpiled horn now, and 20kg annually from thereon in, risking a further stimulation of demand and a subsequent further rise in poaching. Born Free will be urging Parties to reject these proposals and focus instead on protecting beleaguered rhinos.
• Pangolin – the UK is proposing a series of actions aimed at addressing the ongoing poaching crises affecting all eight species of pangolins. Key among these is a tightening in the management of pangolin stockpiles held by countries, and the closure of legal and illegal domestic markets. Born Free is supporting the UK’s efforts.
• Cheetah – the species is threatened by trade, particularly in live cheetahs as exotic pets, which are smuggled through the Horn of Africa into the Middle East. Ethiopia is pushing for action, with a clear focus on demand countries, and measures which address gaps in legislation and regulation, law enforcement and the closure of domestic markets.
• Hippo – Born Free will be supporting a proposal to ban trade in the common hippo, since there are indications that as domestic markets in elephant ivory are closed down, traders are moving to hippo ivory.

WHAT DOES CITES MEAN FOR WILDLIFE?

For wildlife significantly threatened by international trade, CITES can be a lifeline. In a world with mounting threats to wildlife populations and their ecosystems, the last thing many species need is being removed from the wild to be sold as exotic pets, or for their skins to be made into luxury items for the fashion industry.

An Appendix I listing is equivalent to a virtual ban, while Appendix II requires that strict conditions for any further trade are met. Listings apply to all Parties, whether they are importing or exporting the species in question.