Whats means CITES for wildlife conservation ?
Trade in living animals, in ivory, in horns or skins etc is worldwide organised. But is now controlled by CITES. The CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. It was founded in 1975 in Washington. CITES protects wildlife worldwide by setting up endangered animals listings; called appendixes. Wildlife mentioned under Appendix 1 is endangered and all trade is banned. Appendix 1 has the highest level of protection possible. The effect is that hunting or poaching is useless because you can’t export it and the buyer can’t import it. Appendix 2 is about animals who are less endangered but already strickly controlled by the national states. The exportation permit is the tool. If they become an appendix 1 animal the controlling system exists already to prevent trade. The CITES-system is quite effective. But not for every animal on the list. It depends also on cultural attitudes at the demand side. In Europe wearing a leopard skin is not done any more. The CITES ban
