Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

In the early 1960s, international discussion began focusing on the rate at which the world’s wild animals and plants were being threatened by unregulated international trade. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) entered into force in 1975 and became the only treaty to ensure that international trade in plants and animals does not threaten their survival in the wild. 

Over the last several decades, CITES has helped ensure global conservation of species. As online markets and other technological advances make it possible to sell and ship wildlife anywhere in the world, and as issues of wildlife use grow ever more complex, CITES provides tools to effectively conserve the world’s diverse natural resources.

A State or country that has agreed to implement the treaty is called a Party to CITES. Currently there are 184 Parties, including 183 member countries and the European Union. Increased commitment by Parties to effectively implement the treaty has helped control global over-exploitation of wildlife and improved legislation at the national level to enforce CITES. 

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