3. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement
between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in
specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of
the species.
https://cites.org/eng
CITES
5. The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection
they need.
Appendices I and II
Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is
permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be
controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
Appendix III
This Appendix contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other
CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. Changes to Appendix III follow a distinct
procedure from changes to Appendices I and II, as each Party’s is entitled to make unilateral
amendments to it.
7. A specimen of a CITES-listed species may be imported into or exported (or re-exported)
from a State party to the Convention only if the appropriate document has been obtained
and presented for clearance at the port of entry or exit.
Over 38,700 species – including roughly 5,950 species of animals and 32,800 species of plants – are
protected by CITES against over-exploitation through international trade.
A State or regional economic integration organization for which the Convention has entered into
force is called a Party to CITES. Currently there are 184 Parties.
9. An import permit issued by the Management Authority of the State of import is required. This
may be issued only if the specimen is not to be used for primarily commercial purposes and if
the import will be for purposes that are not detrimental to the survival of the species. In the case
of a live animal or plant, the Scientific Authority must be satisfied that the proposed recipient is
suitably equipped to house and care for it.
An export permit or re-export certificate issued by the Management Authority of the State of
export or re-export is also required.
An export permit may be issued only if the specimen was legally obtained; the trade will not be
detrimental to the survival of the species; and an import permit has already been issued.
A re-export certificate may be issued only if the specimen was imported in accordance with the
provisions of the Convention and, in the case of a live animal or plant, if an import permit has
been issued.
In the case of a live animal or plant, it must be prepared and shipped to minimize any risk of
injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.
Appendix-I specimens
10. An export permit or re-export certificate issued by the Management Authority of the State of
export or re-export is required.
An export permit may be issued only if the specimen was legally obtained and if the export will
not be detrimental to the survival of the species.
A re-export certificate may be issued only if the specimen was imported in accordance with the
Convention.
In the case of a live animal or plant, it must be prepared and shipped to minimize any risk of
injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.
No import permit is needed unless required by national law.
Appendix-II specimens
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
In the case of specimens introduced from the sea, a certificate has to be issued by the Management
Authority of the State into which the specimens are being brought, for species listed in Appendix I
or II.
For further information, see the text of the Convention, Article III, paragraph 5 and Article IV,
paragraph 6.
11. In the case of trade from a State that included the species in Appendix III, an export permit
issued by the Management Authority of that State is required. This may be issued only if the
specimen was legally obtained and, in the case of a live animal or plant, if it will be prepared and
shipped to minimize any risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.
In the case of export from any other State, a certificate of origin issued by its Management
Authority is required.
In the case of re-export, a re-export certificate issued by the State of re-export is required
Appendix-III specimens
1.
2.
3.
13. Core and External Funding
The Convention is financed by core and external funds.
The core funding, known as the CITES Trust Fund (CTL), finances the administrative costs of the
Secretariat, the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies, the Standing Committee and
other permanent committees. The CITES Trust Fund is replenished from contributions of the
Parties to the Convention based on the United Nations scale of assessment, adjusted to take account
of the fact that not all members of the United Nations are Parties to the Convention.
The external funds, known as the CITES External Trust Fund (QTL) funds the voluntary
programmes/projects activities costs. The CITES External Trust Fund consists of extrabudgetary
contributions from Parties and other entities on a purely voluntary basis. Each offer of funding to
the CITES External Trust Fund is negotiated and vetted by the Secretariat.
14. Endangered Red-crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur Kachuga)
found in Ganga lowlands and Bangladesh, India has submitted
a proposal to the United Nations Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species on Wild Fauna and Flora for the
addition of the riverine species to Appendix I from current
Appendix II.
India has sent the proposal ahead of the CITES’ nineteenth
meeting of the Conference of the Parties at Panama City to be
held between 14 – 25 November. CITES is an international
treaty to ensure that trade in wild animals and plants does not
threaten their survival.
Batagur Kachuga is currently part of Appendix II of CITES that
has species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in
which trade must be controlled to avoid utilisation
incompatible with their survival.
16. TRAFFIC was founded in 1976 following the launch of the Convention on the International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
TRAFFIC is a leading non-governmental organization working globally on trade in wild animals
and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
TRAFFIC has over 170 staff working on five continents towards the shared goal of reducing the
pressure of unsustainable trade on natural biodiversity.
Strategy
The goal that drives their current conservation strategy to 2020 is to "reduce the pressure of illegal
and unsustainable trade on biodiversity, and enhance the benefits to wildlife conservation and
human well-being that derive from trade at sustainable levels".
https://www.traffic.org/
18. CITES is the main international agreement that controls international trade in wild animals and
plants.
Advising and supporting the enforcement of CITES has been an ongoing priority for TRAFFIC
since our formation. We supply trade information and expert analysis to the decision-making
process at CITES to ensure that international trade in wildlife remains at sustainable levels.
The Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) is the CITES-mandated tool managed by
TRAFFIC that tracks illegal trade in elephant ivory and other elephant products.
20. Collaborators include WWF and IUCN, other NGOs, government agencies, inter-governmental
organisations such as CITES and the World Customs Organisation, and key businesses and
corporate leaders. In some cases these collaborations are formalised under formal co-operation or
partnership agreements. Below is a selection of organisations we work with.
TRAFFIC was established as the "wildlife trade monitoring network".
One of the primary tools they use to do this TradeMapper, a tool developed by TRAFFIC and
WWF-UK for mapping wildlife trade data (such as CITES and customs data). It allows them to
easily visualise and explore their data, as well as create animations of change over time or static maps
for reports and presentations.
Global Shark and Ray Initiative (GSRI)
The goal of the GSRI is that by 2025 the conservation status of the world’s sharks and rays has
improved–declines have been halted, extinctions have been prevented, and commitments to their
conservation have increased globally.
22. The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator
of the health of the world’s biodiversity.
23. The International Union and Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) maintains the Red
Data Book. The IUCN was founded in 1965 with an aim to conserve nature and promote sustainable
utilisation of natural resources. The IUCN is now called World Conservation Union (WCU), and its
headquarters are located at Morges, Switzerland.
The book aims to help researchers in designing efficient measures to protect and secure endangered
species. In addition, the Red Data Book gives essential information for monitoring programmes on the
habitats of all endangered and rare species.
The Red Data Book is a public document that records all rare and endangered species of plants,
animals, and fungi existing within the boundary of the state or territory. The Red Data Book, also
referred to as the Red List also documents some local subspecies of animals, plants, and fungi in the
particular region, prone to extinction. In simple terms, it is a catalogue of species facing the risk of
extinction.
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
24. To provide evidence-based information with respect to the situation of all species and subspecies worldwide.
To provide valuable insights into biodiversity so that effective actions are taken to conserve biological
diversity.
To highlight the pace at which species are becoming endangered and extinct.
To serve as a basis for research and studies of all endangered species on the planet.
History of the Red Data Book
The first-ever Red Data Book was developed by Russian biologists and was based on extensive research carried
out from 1961 to 1964. This book contained the list of all endangered species of plants, animals, and fungi
existing within the Russian Territorial Jurisdiction. Hence, it was called the Red Data Book of the Russian
Federation (RDBRF).
Since its establishment in 1964, the IUCN has been maintaining the Red Data Book. It has a complete record of
every species on the planet. The Red Data Book is considered one of the most definitive sources with respect to
the present status of biodiversity across the globe. Besides the IUCN, individual countries and states maintain
national and regional red data books. These national and regional red data books provide information about the
complete list of threatened species existing within their regional boundaries.
According to the IUCN (1966), the aim and objectives of the Red Data Book are:
27. In much the same way as a barometer measures atmospheric pressure to help us prepare for adverse
weather conditions, The IUCN Red List measures the pressures acting on species, which guides and
informs conservation actions to help prevent extinctions. This is why The IUCN Red List is often
referred to as a Barometer of Life.
28. The IUCN Red List shows us where and what actions need to be taken to save the building blocks
of nature from extinction. It provides a straightforward way to factor biodiversity needs into
decision-making processes by providing a wealth of useful information on species.
“The IUCN Red List tells us where
we ought to be concerned and
where the urgent needs are to do
something to prevent the despoliation
of this world. It is a great agenda
for the work of conservationists.”
Sir David Attenborough
30. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is a statutory multi-disciplinary body established by the Government
of India under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to combat organized wildlife crime in the
country. The Bureau has its headquarter in New Delhi and five regional offices at Delhi, Kolkata,
Mumbai, Chennai and Jabalpur; three sub-regional offices at Guwahati, Amritsar and Cochin; and five
border units at Ramanathapuram, Gorakhpur, Motihari, Nathula and Moreh.
31. When was Wildlife Crime Control Bureau constituted??
It was constituted on 6th June 2007.
Why was the Bureau constituted?
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau was created to complement the existing state machinery to
deal with the wildlife crime having ramifications beyond state and national borders. It is not
intended to perform the normal and routine functions falling within the domain of the States /
Union Territories, as crime including the implementation of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, is
mandate of the State Governments
32. Poaching is the illegal hunting, capturing, and often killing of wild animals.
Enact Severe Laws
Track Endangered Species
Engage and Train More Rangers
Segregate Endangered Species
Educate the Public on Dangers of Poaching
Measures to control poaching & wildlife trade