The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adpoted in Washington on 3 March 1973 and entered into force on 1 July 1975

The objectives of this Convention are to protect certain endangered species from over-exploitation, by means of a system of import/export permits. Trade in certain species is prohibited and in other species is permitted under severe restrictions. The different species are listed under Appendix I (prohibited), Appendix II (trade with restrictions) and Appendix III (voluntary restrictions by individual Parties on those species considered to be threatened). South Africa’s proposal that legal ivory stocks be traded under strict conditions was rejected at COP11. The South African Government has however decided that it would like to re-emphasise this position at COP 12 scheduled for the end of November 2002 in Santiago, Chile.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND COOPERATING ORGANISATIONS

Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (representing South Africa as State Member).
Department of Agriculture
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism
South African National Parks

GENERAL COMMENTS

South Africa is a founding member of CITES and regularly attends the Conferences of the Parties. South Africa's main endeavour is to have its own populations of certain animal and plant species downlisted from Appendix I to Appendix II, in line with its environmental policy of sustainable utilisation of resources.