14 March 2013

CITES conference takes decisive action to regulate trade on a wide range of plant and animal species

The 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) held in Bangkok closed on 14 March, after reaching agreement to add a number of plants and animals to the list of species over which international trade is regulated or banned. New species added to the list include tropical timber, sharks and manta rays.

The Press Release asserted that ‘international cooperation to combat serious wildlife crime have seen past differences set aside to stop the poaching of elephants and the rhinoceroses for their ivory and horn’ and that the ‘international community has today decided to make best use of this pragmatic and effective agreement to help it along the path to sustainability in our oceans and forests’.

Source: BBC | Landmark shark ban upheld at conservation meeting
Source: Press release | CITES conference takes decisive action to halt decline of tropical timber, sharks, manta rays and a wide range of other plants and animals