CITES (the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora) is an international agreement between
Governments. CITES were first formed, in the
1960s. Its aim is to ensure that international
trade in specimens of wild animals and plants
does not threaten their survival. CITES is
an international agreement to which States
(countries) adhere voluntarily. States that
have agreed to be bound by the Convention ('joined'
CITES) are known as Parties. For many years
CITES has been among the conservation agreements
with the largest membership, with now 169 Parties.
Because the trade in wild animals and plants
crosses borders between countries, the effort
to regulate it requires international cooperation
to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation.
CITES was conceived in the spirit of such cooperation.
Today, it accords varying degrees of protection
to more than 30,000 species of animals and plants,
whether they are traded as live specimens, fur
coats or dried herbs.
CITES works by subjecting international trade
in specimens of selected species to certain controls.
All import, export, re-export and introduction
from the sea of species covered by the Convention
has to be authorized through a licensing system.
Each Party to the Convention must designate one
or more Management Authorities in charge of administering
that licensing system and one or more Scientific
Authorities to advise them on the effects of
trade on the status of the species.
The species covered by CITES are listed in three
Appendices, according to the degree of protection
they need.
- Appendix I include species threatened with
extinction. Trade in specimens of these species
is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
- Appendix II includes species not necessarily
threatened with extinction, but in which
trade must be controlled in order to avoid
utilization incompatible with their survival.
- Appendix III contains
species that are protected in at least
one country, which has asked other, CITES
Parties for assistance in controlling the
trade. Changes to Appendix III follow a
distinct procedure from changes to Appendices
I and II, as each Party’s is entitled
to make unilateral amendments to it.
A specimen of a CITES-listed species may be
imported into or exported (or re-exported)
from a State party to the Convention only if
the appropriate document has been obtained
and presented for clearance at the port of
entry or exit.
SARAWAK FORESTRY is the recognized management
authority for CITES covering the whole state
of Sarawak. All imports and exports of CITES-listed
species will require the prior issuance of
appropriate permits and licenses and these
processes are managed by the Security and Asset
Protection Unit. For more enquiries regarding
CITES, please contact your nearest SARAWAK
FORESTRY office.
Source : http://www.cites.org/
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