Why in the News?
Recently, 20th meeting of Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to CITES concluded in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking the first CoP to be held in Central Asia.
Key Highlights of the CoP20
- Species Added: In total, 77 species were added to the CITES appendices.
- Notable additions include oceanic whitetip shark, whale shark, all manta and devil ray species, all three species of Galápagos land iguana, Galápagos marine iguana, Home's hinge-back tortoise to Appendix I.
- India's Role: India successfully opposed a European Union proposal to list guggul (Commiphora wightii) in Appendix II, arguing for a comprehensive population assessments first.
- People Living alongside Fauna and Flora (PLFF): Efforts to embed human dimensions into the Convention including PLFF was rejected due to cost concerns, operational implications and duplication.
- Increase in CITES budget: Proposal by Brazil, Senegal and Mexico to increase the CITES budget by 6.98% for 2026-2028 was adopted.
About CITES
- Genesis: Text of the Convention was agreed at Plenipotentiary Conference in Washington, D.C., USA, on 1973, and was opened for signature from March 03, 1973 (now the date of UN World Wildlife Day).
- On 1 July 1975 CITES entered in force.
- Aim: International agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
- Nature: CITES is an international agreement that countries and regional groups choose to join voluntarily.
- Once a country becomes a Party, it is legally required to follow CITES rules.
- CITES provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level.
- Secretariat: Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
- Membership: 185 Parties (India is a Member).
- CITES Appendices: Species are listed in three Appendices, based on their degree of protection. (refer infographic)
Indian Initiatives towards Preventing Illegal Wildlife Trade
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