50 Years of CITES

Context (UN): In 2025, the CITES treaty marks 50 years since it entered into force in 1975, becoming the first global legal framework to regulate the international wildlife trade.

About Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

CITES is a multilateral treaty regulating trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.
It was proposed in 1963 at an IUCN conference and formally signed in 1973 in Washington, D.C.
CITES has 185 Parties (nearly all UN member states and the European Union). India ratified in 1976.
The treaty is legally binding on Parties but does not override their national legislation.
- Member countries are required to enact domestic laws to implement their obligations under CITES.

The purpose of CITES is to make sure that international trade does not endanger wild species.
CITES currently protects over 40,900 listed species of animals and plants.
- It covers both live specimens and derivatives like skins, tusks, roots, and timber.
- It covers terrestrial and aquatic species traded globally for commercial or scientific use.

The CITES Secretariat operates under UNEP and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
It enables sustainable and traceable wildlife trade through a science-based permit system.
Parties appoint a Management Authority for permits and a Scientific Authority for expert advice.
The global CITES Trade Database is managed by UNEP–WCMC for transparency and recordkeeping.
CITES decisions are reviewed at regular Conferences of the Parties (CoPs) held every 2–3 years.

CITES species are listed under 3 appendices based on their conservation status and trade sensitivity.
Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction, & trade is permitted only in exceptional cases.
Appendix II includes species that are not endangered but may become so without regulation.
Appendix III includes species protected in at least one country that seeks international cooperation.

MIKE: Monitors the Illegal Killing of Elephants through field-level data collection across Asia and Africa.
ICCWC: Coordinates global enforcement by linking CITES with INTERPOL, UNODC, WCO, etc.
Tree Species Programme: Regulates the trade of listed timber species like rosewood, mahogany, etc.
Site-Based Monitoring: Connects local ecological surveillance systems with CITES trade permit system.
Strategic Vision 2021–2030: Provides long-term guidance for aligning CITES actions with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

India became a Party to CITES in 1976 by formally ratifying the Convention.
ADG (Wildlife), MoEFCC, is the Management Authority responsible for CITES implementation in India.
- Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) also acts as a Management Authority and issues permits.

Kunming–Montreal Framework: It is an agreement that sets 2030 targets for halting biodiversity loss and ensuring fair benefit-sharing from natural resources.

Global Framework: CITES created the first international system to regulate cross-border wildlife trade.
Species Recovery: Trade controls enabled the recovery of species such as the Nile crocodile.
Permit Standardisation: The treaty sets uniform rules for export, import, and re-export of listed species.
Collaboration: The ICCWC platform improved coordination among customs and enforcement agencies.