WHAT IS CITES? * the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, a treaty in effect since 1975; * the only global treaty whose focus is the protection of plant and animal species from unregulated international trade; * the three appendices comprising CITES: Appendix I, which protects threatened species from all international commercial trade; Appendix II, which regulates trade in species not threatened with extinction but which may become threatened if trade goes unregulated; and Appendix III, which gives countries the option of listing native species already protected within their own borders; * the commitment of 150 member countries to the principles established by CITES--in particular, that any trade in protected plant and animal species is sustainable; a process through which member countries work together to ensure that wildlife trade is carried out in accordance with the treaty; an administrative body headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, providing original documents in three languages: English, French, and Spanish; * a biennial gathering of member countries attending a two-week long Conference of the Parties, where they review how the treaty is working, resolve policy issues, and determine which lists of protected species need to be amended; * a conference that also allows for attendence of non-voting non-governmental organizations representing conservation, animal welfare, trade, zoological, and scientific interests, and whose presence generally results in the introduction of additional data to the complex issues under discussion and stimulates constructive debate; * annual technical meetings pertaining to animals, plants, and related CITES issues. CITES Preamble "Recognizing that wild fauna and flora in their many beautiful and varied forms are an irreplaceable part of the natural systems of the earth which must be protected for this and the generations to come; Conscious of the ever-growing value of wild fauna and flora from aesthetic, scientific, cultural, recreational and economic points of view; Recognizing that peoples and States are and should be the best protectors of their own wild fauna and flora; Recognizing, in addition, that international co-operation is essential for the protection of certain species of wild fauna and flora against over-exploitation through international trade..." [The Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties will take place in Gigiri (Kenya) 10-20 April 2000.] (To comment on this topic in the Earth Forum message area, read the CITES Meeting discussion.)

Uploaded: 2/21/2004