Convention on international trade in Convention on international trade in Endangered species of 1973Endangered species of 1973

Draft year – 1973Draft year – 1973 Amendment years - The Gaborone Amendment years - The Gaborone

Amendment Amendment (1983)(1983)

International International ByBy Zachary Taylor period 1Zachary Taylor period 1

Description of FunctionDescription of Function

Its aim is to ensure that international trade in Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. threaten their survival.

Annually, international wildlife trade is estimated Annually, international wildlife trade is estimated to be worth billions of dollars and to include to be worth billions of dollars and to include hundreds of millions of plant and animal hundreds of millions of plant and animal specimens. The trade is diverse, ranging from specimens. The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals and plants to a vast array of wildlife live animals and plants to a vast array of wildlife products derived from them, including food products derived from them, including food products, exotic leather goods, wooden musical products, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, timber, tourist curios and medicines instruments, timber, tourist curios and medicines

Agency/ Group responsible for Agency/ Group responsible for regulation and enforcement regulation and enforcement

CITES is an international agreement to which CITES is an international agreement to which States (countries) adhere voluntarily. States that States (countries) adhere voluntarily. States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention have agreed to be bound by the Convention ('joined' CITES) are known as Parties. Although ('joined' CITES) are known as Parties. Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other words they have to implement the Convention – words they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the place of national laws. it does not take the place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level. implemented at the national level.