CITES Flashcards
Legal Wildlife Trade
- happens for species under Appendix II
- also happens though for a whole bunch of species not governed by CITES
CITES - Article 2
- Fundamental Principles
- dictates which kinds of species fall into Appendices I, II, and III
- also says Parties shall not allow trade in listed species EXCEPT in accordance w/ the CITES provisions (trade can happen, but under certain conditions)
CITES - Appendix I Species
- includes “all species threatened with extinction which are or may be affected by trade” (Article 2)
- Article 2 also emphasizes trade in these species “must be subject to particularly strict regulation” + only authorized “in exceptional circumstances”
- keep in mind concept of affected by trade - listing not just a matter of species status, it depends on extent to which trade is driving that status as well
CITES - Article 1
- sets out definitions of species + specimen
- species includes species, sub-species, and geographically separate population
-specimen includes any plant, animal, or recognizable part or derivative thereof
What does CITES regulate?
- explicitly restricted to international trade in species threatened with extinction
- treads very carefully around national sovereignty issues -> does NOT regulate protection of a species w/in a particular nation’s borders
- also does not regulate non-trade threats to species
- CITES only applies ones species/specimen enters stream of international commerce
CITES - Appendix II Species
- “all species which although not necessarily now threatened with extinction may become so unless trade in specimens of such species is subject to strict regulation in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival” (Article 2(2)(a))
- also look-alike species (Article 2(2)(b))
CITES - Appendix III Species
- “all species which any Party identifies as being subject to regulation within its jurisdiction for the purpose of preventing or restricting exploitation, and as needing the co-operation of other Parties in the control of trade” (Article 2(3))
- Party can add unilaterally, but needs to be currently protecting the species under its own domestic laws + seeking help of int community to control its int trade
CITES - Article III
- discusses regulation of specimens in Appendix I
- note that commercial trade in Appendix I species is generally prohibited
- need both an export permit AND an import permit for trade
CITES - Appendix I Export Requirements
- set out in Article III(2)
Need export permit -> only granted when:
- Scientific Authority of the export state has advised export “not detrimental to the survival of that species”
- Management Authority of export state satisfied the specimen wasn’t obtained in contravention of that state’s laws for protection of flora + fauna
-> also satisfied prepared and shipped to minimize risk of injury, damage to health, or cruel treatment
-> also satisfied that an import permit has been granted for the specimen
CITES - Appendix I Import Requirements
- set out in Article III(4)
- need to present both export permit + import permit for import
For import permit, need:
- Scientific Authority of import state has advised import for purposes “not detrimental to the survival of the species involves”
- Scientific Authority also satisfied proposed recipient of living specimen suitably equipped to house + care for it
- Management Authority satisfied specimen “not to be used for primarily commercial purposes” (this is where the ban on commercial trade derives from)
CITES - Appendix II Trade Requirements
- set out in Article IV
ONLY need export permit, which requires:
- Scientific Authority of the export state has advised export “not detrimental to the survival of that species”
- Management Authority of export state satisfied the specimen wasn’t obtained in contravention of that state’s laws for protection of flora + fauna
-> also satisfied prepared and shipped to minimize risk of injury, damage to health, or cruel treatment
CITES - Intent of Appendix II Requirements
- don’t need import permit b/c not banning commercial trade entirely
- more focused on non-detriment finding - trying to make sure trade won’t harm the capacity of the species to survive domestically
-> CAN be traded internationally subject to permit reqs
-> goal is more to put the species within a regulated trade system, not stop trade completely
->middle-ground - authorities still have power to say trade WILL be detrimental + refuse to grant permit
CITES - Chicken and Egg Issue
- need some info to list, but listing is how we get the requisite info for certain species
CITES - Primary Activity
- primarily acts as a regulatory mechanism, not an outright ban on trade
- generally far fewer species listed on Appendix I than Appendix II
CITES - Appendix III Trade Requirements
- set out in Article V
- only need export permit if the specimen is from the country that put the species on Appendix III
- BUT need certificate of origin for import (imposing some burden of verifying where the species came from -> avoiding leakage)
- nod to ability of states to have greater protection