Insight into Cites

WHILE Namibia is a signatory and active member of Cites, not all citizens know how the convention operates.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), protects and controls animals and plant species whose survival is threatened by trade in them. It is an international agreement between governments of the world, aimed at ensuring that international trade on wild animals and plants does not put their survival in danger.Trade on animals and plants species can be through products derived from them, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, timber or medicines.Today Cites, which consists of 166 member countries, accords varying degrees of protection to more than 30 000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.Cites was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the text of the convention was finally agreed at a meeting of representative of 90 countries in Washington in March 1973.On July 1 1975 Cites came into force.Countries that have agreed to be bound by Cites are called “Parties” and Cites’ annual meeting is called the Conference of Parties (CoP).Cites’ 13th Conference of Parties is currently under way in the Thai capital Bangkok.And it is at this gathering that Namibia’s request to trade in ivory every year and to trade in elephants products will be brought to the fore this week.How Cites works All plants and animal species covered by Cites are listed in three groups, called “Appendices”, according the the degree of protection they need.*Appendix I consists of species that are threatened with extinction and trade on them is only allowed in exceptional circumstances.*Appendix II contains species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilisation not compatible with their survival.*Appendix III is a group of species that are protected in at least one country, that has asked other Cites Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.For example, Namibia asked Cites to place Hoodia on Appendix III to control its trade.Hoodia is used for, among others, the manufacture of weight loss products.It is an international agreement between governments of the world, aimed at ensuring that international trade on wild animals and plants does not put their survival in danger.Trade on animals and plants species can be through products derived from them, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, timber or medicines.Today Cites, which consists of 166 member countries, accords varying degrees of protection to more than 30 000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.Cites was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the text of the convention was finally agreed at a meeting of representative of 90 countries in Washington in March 1973.On July 1 1975 Cites came into force.Countries that have agreed to be bound by Cites are called “Parties” and Cites’ annual meeting is called the Conference of Parties (CoP).Cites’ 13th Conference of Parties is currently under way in the Thai capital Bangkok.And it is at this gathering that Namibia’s request to trade in ivory every year and to trade in elephants products will be brought to the fore this week.How Cites works All plants and animal species covered by Cites are listed in three groups, called “Appendices”, according the the degree of protection they need.*Appendix I consists of species that are threatened with extinction and trade on them is only allowed in exceptional circumstances.*Appendix II contains species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilisation not compatible with their survival.*Appendix III is a group of species that are protected in at least one country, that has asked other Cites Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.For example, Namibia asked Cites to place Hoodia on Appendix III to control its trade.Hoodia is used for, among others, the manufacture of weight loss products.