2500 people from 151 countries attended the 11 day CITES conference (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) in Nairobi in late April to determine how to protect endangered animals from international trade. Hawksbill turtles, whales,
elephants, and tigers gained protection, but sharks did not. The CITES conference is held every two and a half years.
Whales: Global bans on international trade in whales will be maintained. Four proposals by Japan and Norway to downlist certain species of whales were rejected.
Norway takes whales – the season began April 24 – as an “objection” to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) ban and Japan takes 440 minke whales under a “scientific” program allowed by the IWC (The IWC governs whaling in addition to CITES).
During the discussion before the vote, IWC chairman Michael Canny emphasized that before commercial whaling can resume a management program must be in place. When trade is opened illegal poaching inevitably rises, threatening the population as a whole.
Elephants: In a move that was praised by participants, African nations agreed that no ivory will be sold in order to give them time to assess elephant populations and poaching levels. In Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, controlled trade is permitted in live elephants, meat and hide, but not ivory. In other African countries all trade pertaining to elephants is banned.
The ivory trade ban was lifted in 1997 for Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa to make a one-time sale to Japan, but numerous studies show that a dramatic increase in poaching and ivory smuggling followed. Conservationists believe only a complete ivory ban has saved the African elephant from extinction. Since populations have recovered since the 1990 ban on ivory, southern African nations claim a controlled ivory trade would provide funds for conservation and also give poor farmers a financial incentive to protect elephants.
Although the votes were very close, marine turtle trade will continue to be banned as it has for the last 25 years. Cuba proposed selling rare hawksbill turtle shells to Japan. Britain, on the other hand, lost in its proposal to protect the basking shark from unregulated trade. The sharks get caught in fishing nets and there is a growing trade in their fins, oil, cartilage, skin and meat. Fins are sold for up to $15,000 each for shark fin soup, a delicacy in Asia. Proposals to protect other shark species also failed, mostly because of disagreements as to whether CITES or FAO (UN Food & Agricultural Organization) have jurisdiction over fish species.
Tigers are severely endangered throughout their range. Delegates adopted a resolution to improve conservation and enforcement efforts for tigers, and to reduce demand for tiger parts in Asian medicinal preparations. Another resolution gives full protection for rhinoceros. Sturgeon protection was also increased. The Russian Federation and Iran must enforce export quotas for these fish, which have been driven close to extinction for their caviar.
Other species gained complete protection: Australian dugong (manatee); New Caledonia horned parakeet; the coelacanth (fossil fish); certain populations of Asian wild sheep; Argentina monkey puzzle tree. A number of species were added to the list for the first time, meaning that a permit is required for trade, such as Asian Ginseng, Asian box turtles, and the Malagasy poison frog. Bigleaf Mahogany and Sea Horses are being studied.
Delegates voted to adopt a five-year strategic plan to reduce and ultimately eliminate illegal trade by beefing up enforcement measures, and by strengthening collaborations with other biodiversity efforts around the world.
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