The Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species (widely known as "C.I.T.E.S.")
is an international code which came into force on 1st July 1975.
At the time of writing 150
countries around the world are signatories of the convention. |
The
purpose of C.I.T.E.S. is to help arrest the decline in the numbers of
animal and plant species, by regulating or prohibiting trade in those
considered to be most at risk. The list of endangered species is regularly
updated and is divided in three main groups, or appendices. Those believed
to be under immediate threat of extinction appear in Appendix I or "CITES
I", while CITES II & III list those at lesser risk. Trade in
those species considered most in danger of extinction is banned in the
member countries, whilst trade in those which might become endangered
is regulated and monitored. |
