18th Conference Of Parties Of CITES

The 18th Conference of the Parties (CoP18) of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was held between 17-28 August in Geneva, Switzerland.
Originally, it was planned to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in May, 2019.But due to the unfortunate terrorist attacks that occurred in Colombo on 21 April 2019, it was cancelled and rescheduled to occur in Switzerland.
CoP 19 will be held in Costa Rica in 2022.

Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)

It was moved from CITES Appendix II to CITES Appendix I. Now it enjoys the highest degree of protection as there will be a complete international ban enforced on their trade.
This species is found in Java, Sumatra and Borneo, northward to south-western China, east through Nepal and Bhutan and India to Pakistan, excluding the Indus Valley.
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Threats: Poaching, habitat loss, pet trade, pollution,deliberate trapping for fur in India, Nepal and Bangladesh mainly for export to China.
Ecological Role: It plays a vital role in balancing the freshwater ecosystems as a top carnivorous and therefore significantly influences the overall spatio–temporal dynamics of the Eco region.

Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans)

Indian star tortoise was also moved to CITES Appendix I. Now it prohibits international trade of these species except when the purpose of the import is for scientific research.
They are found in three geographic areas: northwestern India (Gujarat, Rajasthan) and adjoining southeastern Pakistan; eastern and southern areas from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and eastern Karnataka to Odisha and throughout Sri Lanka.
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Threats: Habitat loss, illegal collection for utilization by local people for pet and collection for the international wildlife trade mainly to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, as well as other countries in Southeast and East Asia.
Ecological Role: Being herbivores, Indian star tortoises may act as dispersal agents for various plants via consumption of seeds and fruit and other kind of vegetation.

Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko)

It is included in CITES Appendix II.
They are found in northeast India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, throughout Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Indonesia, and to western New Guinea in Melanesia.
IUCN Red List: Least Concern
Threats: High demand for use in traditional medicines mainly in China and Vietnam and other South East Asian countries.
Ecological Role: Tokay Geckoes help in pest control as they usually feed on grasshoppers, mice, locusts which are considered major threats to standing crops.

Other Animals which got Special Attention

Sharks: 18 species of sharks threatened by the scale of international trade in their fins and meat, were included in Appendix II of the Convention.
African Elephants: Parties vote to restrict trade from Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Giraffes: It accorded protection from trade for the first time and has been placed in Appendix II of CITES. Now it prohibits its uncontrolled trade.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES)

With 183 Parties, CITES remains one of the world's most powerful tools for wildlife conservation through the regulation of trade.It is also known as Washington Convention.
It was signed in Washington D.C. on 3 March 1973 and 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 their survival.

CITES Appendix

CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system
The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.
Appendix I: It includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
Appendix II: It includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
Appendix III: It 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.

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. Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 35,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.