Important Conventions: CITES | Environment for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
 
CITES 
Page 2


 
 
CITES 
INTRODUCTION 
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. 
 
Page 3


 
 
CITES 
INTRODUCTION 
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. 
 
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as 
the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to 
protect endangered plants and animals.  
It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a 
meeting of members of the International Union for 
Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  
The convention was opened for signature in 1973 and CITES 
entered into force on 1 July 1975.  
Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of 
wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of 
the species in the wild, and it accords varying degrees of 
protection to more than 35,000 species of animals and 
plants. 
 In order to ensure that the General Agreement on Tariffs 
and Trade (GATT) was not violated, the Secretariat of 
GATT was consulted during the drafting process. 
Page 4


 
 
CITES 
INTRODUCTION 
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. 
 
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as 
the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to 
protect endangered plants and animals.  
It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a 
meeting of members of the International Union for 
Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  
The convention was opened for signature in 1973 and CITES 
entered into force on 1 July 1975.  
Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of 
wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of 
the species in the wild, and it accords varying degrees of 
protection to more than 35,000 species of animals and 
plants. 
 In order to ensure that the General Agreement on Tariffs 
and Trade (GATT) was not violated, the Secretariat of 
GATT was consulted during the drafting process. 
CITES is an international agreement to which States and 
regional economic integration organizations adhere 
voluntarily.  
States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention 
('joined' CITES) are known as Parties. 
 Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in 
other words they have to implement the Convention 
– it does not take the place of national laws.  
Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each 
Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation 
to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national 
level. 
It is administered through United Nations Environment 
Programme (UNEP).  
It’s secretariat is located in Geneva (Switzerland).  
Page 5


 
 
CITES 
INTRODUCTION 
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. 
 
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as 
the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to 
protect endangered plants and animals.  
It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a 
meeting of members of the International Union for 
Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  
The convention was opened for signature in 1973 and CITES 
entered into force on 1 July 1975.  
Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of 
wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of 
the species in the wild, and it accords varying degrees of 
protection to more than 35,000 species of animals and 
plants. 
 In order to ensure that the General Agreement on Tariffs 
and Trade (GATT) was not violated, the Secretariat of 
GATT was consulted during the drafting process. 
CITES is an international agreement to which States and 
regional economic integration organizations adhere 
voluntarily.  
States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention 
('joined' CITES) are known as Parties. 
 Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in 
other words they have to implement the Convention 
– it does not take the place of national laws.  
Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each 
Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation 
to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national 
level. 
It is administered through United Nations Environment 
Programme (UNEP).  
It’s secretariat is located in Geneva (Switzerland).  
 
CITES has no enforcement authority 
CITES classifies species into three categories Appendix I, II and III and 
regulates their trade via cooperation of various nations. 
Appendix I  
There are almost 1000 plant and animal species in this list. 
Their trade is totally banned, unless in a exceptional situation. 
Appendix II 
Species that are not necessarily threatened, but will get threatened if 
their trade is not controlled. 
Businessmen will need to get licence from relevant authorities to 
export such plants/ animals/their products. 
The Government can give licence if it certain that that trade will not 
be harmful to the survival of the species in the wild 
Appendix III 
List of species included at the request of any one nation but needs 
the cooperation of other countries to prevent unsustainable or 
illegal exploitation.