The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has completed 50 years since it entered into force in 1975, marking a milestone in protecting wildlife from trade-driven extinction. 

• It was originally conceived in 1963 at a meeting of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

About CITES

• It is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the species’ survival.
• Adoption: CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of IUCN members, and it entered into force on 1 July 1975.
• Parties: 185 Parties (States or regional economic organizations).
  • India ratified CITES in 1976.

• Legally Binding: CITES is legally binding on the Parties but does not replace national laws. Each Party must adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level.
• Appendix: The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices according to the degree of protection they need
  • Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
    • Examples include gorillas, sea turtles, most lady slipper orchids, and giant pandas.
  • Appendix II: It includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction but for which trade must be controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
    • Examples include paddlefish, lions, American alligators, mahogany among others.
    • Trade is allowed with an export or re-export permit, ensuring it doesn’t harm the species’ survival.
  • Appendix III: It contains species protected in at least one country that has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.
    • Examples include map turtles, walruses and Cape stag beetles.
    • International trade in specimens of species listed in this Appendix is allowed only on presentation of the appropriate permits or certificates.
• Administered by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Geneva, Switzerland. The IUCN provides scientific and technical services to the Secretariat.
• Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) on behalf of the CITES Secretariat.
• Conference of Parties (CoP):The highest decision-making body of CITES.
  • Member nations meet every 2–3 years at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to review species listings and enforcement.
  • CoP3 was held in New Delhi in 1981.
• Species may be added to or removed from Appendix I and II, or moved between them, only by the Conference of the Parties.

Key Initiatives

• Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme: A site-based initiative under CITES to monitor trends in illegal elephant killings across Africa and Asia, now active in 70+ locations covering nearly half of the world’s elephant population.
• International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) – A global partnership between CITES, INTERPOL, UNODC, World Bank, and WCO, working together to combat illegal wildlife trade and strengthen law enforcement.

CITES and India

• India is recognized as one of the mega-diverse countries, hosting 7–8% of all recorded global species.
• India contains 4 of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots:
  Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats & Sri Lanka, and Sundaland.
• Actively prohibits international trade of endangered species and controls invasive alien species through export certificates and import permits.
• India proposed  to move three species from Appendix II to Appendix I for greater protection:
  • Small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus)
  • Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)
  • Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans)

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