THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED

SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA

ICC (EAST LONDON)

09 MARCH 2018

OUTLINE

• What is CITES?

• Why CITES – Purpose?

• What species does CITES cover?

• How does CITES work?

• Who does what?

• Rural communities involvement

WHAT IS CITES• CITES is an acronym for the Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

• Entered into force on 1 July 1975; ZA date of entry (15/07/1975); ZA

entry into force (13/10/1975). Implementation through CITES

Regulations (2010), currently being amended

• There are 183 countries which are Parties to CITES around the world

WHAT IS CITES (…CONT.)

A multilateral agreement that operates through

an intergovernmental process

Combines wildlife and trade themes within a

legally binding instrument

Achieving conservation and sustainable use

objectives

CITES TRADE (ECONOMIC)

Construction & fittings

Leather & fashion

Pharmaceuticals Pets

Cosmetics

Food Collections

Tourism

THE PURPOSE OF CITES

• To ensure that international trade in wild

specimens of animals and plants does not

threaten their survival in the wild by

encouraging sustainable exploitation of the

various species

PURPOSE OF CITES (…CONT.)

• It aims to conserve biodiversity and contribute to its

sustainable use by ensuring that no species of wild

fauna or flora becomes or remains subject to

unsustainable exploitation through international

trade

• It is not for or against trade in wildlife. It is a

Convention that regulates trade with the aim ofpreventing the extinction of species due to trade

How CITES Works

• Trade in over 35,000 species* regulated by CITES

• 3 Appendices establishing different levels of protection

Appendix I (3%)

International

commercial trade is

prohibited

Appendix II + III (97%)

International commercial

trade is allowed but

controlled

How CITES Works (…Cont.)

Ensure that wild fauna and flora in international

trade are not exploited unsustainably by ensuring:

Legality Sustainability Traceability

CITES PERMITS

There are four types of CITES

documents:

– Export permits

– Import permits

– Re-export certificates

– Other certificates

Personal and household effects

Pre-Convention specimens

Captive-bred or artificially propagated

specimens

Scientific exchange

Travelling exhibitions

CITES BASIC PROVISIONS

The text of the Convention outlines the basic

provisions for trade and obligations of each Party,

including:

• Trade procedures and

requirements

• Enforcement measures

• Exemptions and special

procedures

• Marking of specimens• Confiscations

• Reporting

• Trade with non-Parties

• Amendment of the Appendices

• Reservations

PENALTIES

A person who contravenes the CITES Regulations is guilty

of the offence and shall be liable on conviction to—

a) a fine not exceeding R5m or imprisonment for a period not

exceeding 5 years, and in the case of a second or

subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding R10m or

imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years; or

b) in both instances referred to in paragraph (a), both such fine

or imprisonment; or

c) in the case of repeated offenders, a fine or imprisonment or

both a fine and imprisonment as referred to in (a) above and

being banned from applying for a permit to trade in CITES

listed species again.