What exactly is CITES?
This is a 4 part article by Rick Jordan of AFA explaining exactly what CITES is, The Difference Between CITES and the US Endangered Species Act, Some of CITES resolutions pertaining to Parrots, and The AFA CITES Committee. Part 1: What exactly is CITES? 1. The term “CITES” stands for “Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species”. 2. CITES is an international “treaty” that went into force in July of 1975. The aim is to ensure that international trade in certain species of plants and animals did not threaten their existence. Today more than 30,000 species are afforded certain protections under the treaty, ranging from live specimens of Panda bears to fur coats or alligator wallets. The signatories of the treaty have vowed to honor the “regulations” put forth under the Convention. 3. Today over 150 countries (Parties) worldwide have signed onto and vowed to honor the Treaty. Each country then assigns its own governmental agency that will monitor the Convention and enact an
