i. Prevent international trade from threatening the survival of wild fauna and
flora: The
objective of CITES is to prevent international trade from threatening the survival of wild
fauna and flora. To achieve the above objective, CITES has established an international
network for the control of international trade in live and dead animals and plants and of parts
and derivatives thereof. Control of international trade in endangered species is primarily
done through government permits/certificates required for such trade. Monitoring
international trade is based on Trade Records.
ii. Operational Instrument of the Convention: The Convention functions as the result of permit system for species listed in three categories. Appendix I species include those threatened by extinction, which are or may be affected by trade. Appendix II species are those that may become threatened with extinction if trade is not strictly regulated. And Appendix III species include those species, which individual Parties to the Convention choose to make subject to regulations and which require the cooperation of the other Parties
in controlling trade.
Approximately every two years, a Conference of the Parties (COP) is held, where Parties can introduce proposals to add a species to, delete from or transfer between Appendices I and II. Eleven COPs have taken place thus far. The next COP will be held in November 2002, in Santiago, Chile.
iii. Types of international trade export: Control procedures for species listed in
these
Appendices vary depending on the type of international trade export, re-export (export of any
specimen that has previously been imported), and introduction from the sea.
