Following the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20) a series of landmark decisions designed to strengthen trade regulations for threatened species have been made. Many of the species covered were heavily targeted by the global pet trade.
Those pushing for the new measures includes the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), drawing on evidence based conservation science.
CITES has been active since 1975. It is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade. To date, CITES affords varying degrees of protection to more than 40,900 species.
Sharks
CITES adopted historic protections for more than 70 species of sharks and rays, including the uplisting of oceanic whitetip sharks, whale sharks, and all manta and devil rays to Appendix I. This effectively prohibits their international commercial trade.
Similar protections to halt legal trade via ‘zero quota’ measures were offered to the most threatened families of sharks and rays—the wedgefish and giant guitarfish—prized for their high value fins.
Several additional shark species received new Appendix II protections, ensuring their trade will be regulated allowing only legal and sustainable trade.
Okapi
Governments also agreed by consensus to prohibit all international commercial trade in the Endangered okapi (one Democratic Republic of the Congo’s most at risk species), listing the species on Appendix I.
Iguana
Parties also agreed by consensus to protect Galápagos land and marine iguanas (Ecuador), now also listed on Appendix I, prohibiting their international commercial trade.
Elephants
The long-standing international ban on international commercial trade in elephant ivory was reaffirmed.
Pet Trade
The meeting delivered stronger safeguards for numerous species targeted by the pet trade, including two gecko species from Australia, two species of sloths from Central and South America, and a Central African monkey, helping to close loopholes that have fuelled unsustainable—and often illegal—trade for global markets.
Proposals on Saiga and Eeels
However, the decision was made to continue international commercial trade in saiga horn from Kazakhstan. The Parties likewise declined to provide Appendix II protections for Anguillid eels.
Commenting on these outcomes, Dr. Susan Lieberman, WCS Vice President of International Policy, states: “CITES CoP20 demonstrated the power of global cooperation when governments choose science and decisive action over inaction and extinction. The sweeping protections adopted for sharks and rays, the historic Appendix I listing of the okapi, the elevation of Galápagos marine and land iguanas to Appendix I, and new measures to protect species targeted by the global pet trade show what is possible when Parties unite to ensure that international trade does not contribute to the demise of species.”
However, on the subject of eels and saiga, she adds: “We are deeply disappointed that Parties agreed to reopen saiga horn trade from Kazakhstan under large-scale quotas. A single bad trade decision can undo decades of conservation work. This move is risky, and premature…Another concerning outcome was that Parties failed to give trade protections to all species of eel. At a time when eel populations are declining around the world and trafficking networks are expanding, this inaction is worrying.”
