August 23, 2019

anna Murray 

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), also known as the Washington Convention enacted since July 1, 1975, is a multilateral treaty between countries to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not endanger their survival in the meantime. CITES has safeguarded more than 35,000 species of endangered plants and animals. Now 138 nations and regional economic integration organizations join CITES, known as Parties, which have meant to adhere voluntarily to the agreement.

Every two to three years the Conference of the Parties, often referred to as CoP, meets for about two weeks to review the implementation of the CITES and for all Parties to participate in the discussions of a series of proposals. The proposal winning the majority of votes from a committee of the Parties will be a provisional decision and will be endorsed at a plenary meeting later as resolution.

The 18th meeting of the CoP is currently held at Geneva of Switzerland from August 17 to 28. The motion to regulate giraffes has been approved by 106 to 21 votes on August 22. It is expected to be endorsed as a new resolution and lists giraffes along with other species on Appendix II, which will regulate international trade in giraffe bones, meat, and skins. It is reported African giraffes have been silently extinct almost 40% in the past 30 years. The proposal stated unregulated trade in giraffes was primarily about poaching for bushmeat and their being sold as new exotic in bracelets, jewelry, and purses. 

The new CITES listing will allow giraffe conservation of the world's tallest mammals to receive international protection from extinction. Meanwhile, some proposals of lifting restrictions on elephant ivory trade were all defeated. The Parties of the CITES have contributed well in managing legal and sustainable trade in wild animals and plants and successfully maintain the conservation of species of wild animals and plants. Well said Cassandra Koenen of World Animal Protection, wild animals “should belong in the wild, not as a trophy in your office.”  

Photo:Webshot.