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World Wildlife Day

Topics Covered: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

World Wildlife Day:

Context:

In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March – the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973 – as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.

  • The UNGA resolution also designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of World Wildlife Day.

 Theme this year: “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet”.

About CITES:

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international regulatory treaty between 183 party states.

Formed in 1973 and regulates the international trade in over 35,000 wild species of plants and animals.

The focus of the convention is not solely on the protection of species. It also promotes controlled trade that is not detrimental to the sustainability of wild species.

How does CITES work?

The convention works primarily through a system of classification and licensing.

Wild species are categorised in Appendices I to III. This often reflects species’ threat status on the Red List of the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species first created in 1964.

  1. Appendix I prohibits trade in species classified as highly endangered.
  2. Appendix II allows trade under very specific conditions. This requires exporting countries obtain a permit, but not the importing country.
  3. Appendix III species require only a certificate of origin to be traded.

National CITES management authorities may issue permits once scientific authorities show non-detriment findings.

CITES is legally binding on state parties to the convention, which are obliged to adopt their own domestic legislation to implement its goals.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

  1. What are exotic species- definition in the advisory?
  2. What is CITES?
  3. Classification of species under CITES?
  4. What is Wildlife (Protection) Act? Species protected under various schedules of this act.
  5. As per the new guidelines, what is the procedure to be followed while importing new exotic species?
  6. About chief wildlife warden of the state.

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of recently issued guidelines for import of exotic species in the country.

Sources: the Hindu.