CITES Trade: A global analysis to inform future trade management

Transcription

1 CITES Trade: A global analysis to inform future trade management The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES affords varying degrees of trade regulation to nearly species of animals and plants. The Convention will celebrate its 40th anniversary during the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP16) in Bangkok, Thailand. To provide an overview of CITES trade and implementation over the first 40 years of the Convention, UNEP-WCMC has examined key trade patterns and trends and invited contributions from guest authors. Key findings and developments are summarized to inform future trade management and strengthen the capacity of national authorities to implement the Convention.

2 The CITES Trade Database A vital resource With over 13 million trade records provided by Parties, the CITES Trade Database represents the largest global information resource on sustainable use of wildlife. CITES trade data provide the basis for monitoring the implementation of the Convention and support key decision making. Data are used to inform many fundamental CITES processes such as the making of non-detriment findings, establishment of quotas and trade restrictions, and assessment of compliance. Ensuring effective implementation of CITES can support legal and sustainable trade, providing benefits for both livelihoods and the environment. CITES Trade Data - Uses and Abuses by a Botanist by Noel McGough The CITES Trade Database is a unique and invaluable resource for regulation, management and review of international trade in plants and animals. Analysis of the data can reveal potential non-sustainable trade, possible illegal trade or indicate that a CITES listing is flawed because Parties cannot interpret and apply it with consistency on a day-to-day basis. Analysis of the trade data can also reveal if a listing is redundant, that international trade has, quite simply, moved on to other species or is in parts and derivatives not covered by the current listing. As a CITES Scientific Authority, the trade database helps you place your trade in an international context. As such it can help you plan research, target enforcement training, review effectiveness of listings covering native species and connect with countries that have similar patterns of trade and most likely, similar problems in implementing listings. Regular review of regional and international trade data by national experts can be an important tool in calibrating the CITES mechanism at national level. The inclusion of enforcement experts can also be a revelation with their knowledge of trade, trade routes and the darker corners of the Customs tariff code system. Using the trade data to provide a regional analysis and then testing this in a small workshop with local experts, trade representatives, CITES Authorities and enforcement officials can be a very fruitful exercise. Doing this on a regional basis can increase the value of the interaction between a wide range of stakeholders. All trade starts locally, but very seldom are local stakeholders allowed access to the full international scope of plant trade. Analysis of Trade Data - global trends Analysis by UNEP-WCMC of international trade trends in key commodities of Appendix I and II species indicates that, over the 40 years of the Convention: The annual number of trade transactions has increased over the lifetime of the Convention, peaking at just under p.a. in 2008, partly in line with an increasing number of Parties and listed species; The numbers of live plants in trade far outstrips the numbers of live animals; averaging around 60 million plants and 3-5 million animals per annum in recent years; Trade in live animals has shifted over time; birds and reptiles dominated much of the trade in the early years of the Convention, but exports of birds have substantially declined in response to stricter measures for reasons of biosecurity; Top exporting countries of live wild Appendix II birds in 1996 and 2010 Captive-production or ranching now produces the majority of live mammals, birds and reptiles reported in trade. Associated geographic switches in country of export are also apparent for some taxa. Much of the live plant trade (77%) is in artificially propagated specimens; Export of animals and plants sourced from the wild remains an important component of the trade, with 377 and Appendix I and II taxa, respectively, reported in trade in the past five years ( ) involving 141 countries of export; Reporting of trade by Parties has substantially improved over the 40 years.

3 Appendix I trade Around 3% of CITES species are included in Appendix I. Commercial trade is only allowed in exceptional circumstances, and where the trade represents no risk to wild populations. Conservation benefits can also be achieved. Trends in trade of Appendix I taxa over the period were apparent: Captive-bred or artificially propagated specimens and hunting trophies for personal use accounted for the majority of reported trade in Appendix I species; Quotas for hunting trophies and skins, approved by the CoP as part of sustainable use programmes have been largely complied with; South Africa 24,511 Thailand 34,694 Ecuador 3,094 Trade in captive-produced specimens of live birds, reptiles and fish increased over time, with the majority of trade dominated by relatively few taxa; Major exporters of captive-bred birds included non-range States within Europe; North America issued the highest number of Appendix I export permits in by region, but exports by volume were dominated by the Asian region. Proportion of permits reported by CITES region for Appendix I species , including the main exporter per region Germany 13,857 United States of America 71,905 Australia 2,647 Appendix II trade The majority (~97%) of CITES species are included in Appendix II. Trade in these species must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. Trade trends identified for included: The majority of trade (75-80%) in CITES Appendix II-listed mammals, birds and reptiles was accounted for by around 60 taxa during , although a total of plant and animal taxa were reportedly exported; The regions that exported the highest number of plant and animal taxa were Central and South America and the Caribbean and Europe respectively; Live plants and animals were exported from all regions, with Asia exporting the highest numbers overall by volume; The CITES Review of Significant Trade process has contributed to the management of trade in globally threatened species at national levels. Number of plant and animal taxa exported per CITES region, Number of taxa exported Animals (W, U, unspecified) Plants (W, U, unspecified) Africa Asia C. & S. America/ Caribbean Animals (other sources) Plants (other sources) Europe N. America Oceania Africa 56,115 Asia 60,182 C. & S. America/ Caribbean 10,270 Europe 51,248 North America 79,551 Trade in live CITES Appendix I birds , as reported by exporters and importers Oceania 5,768 Proportional volume of exports of live plants and animals across the six CITES regions (as reported in number of individuals). Each left hand chart indicates the volume of plants and each right hand chart indicates the volume of animals traded; sources are indicated. Overall volumes of live plants and animals exported are indicated by the large and small circles respectively, to the left of the map. Number of live birds traded Exp Qty Imp Qty C D F W R U O (blank)

4 Value and beneficiaries of CITES Trade Lessons for future implementation The many and varied benefits provided by trade in wildlife have been recognized by CITES Parties. Through the mechanisms it puts in place to support a sustainable trade, CITES plays an important role in achieving sustainable development and contributing to the global economy. Value Preliminary studies of the value of trade in CITES-listed species using price data reported to U.S. Customs have been used to estimate value of key trade terms for animal taxa. The value of trade in Caiman crocodilus skins during the years , for example was estimated at USD 222 million. Whilst the overall value for a key subset of Appendix II animal species over these five years was estimated at USD 2.2 billion (Secretariat, 2013), the overall value will be significantly boosted by further calculations to include the value of additional plants and other commodities traded in low volume but which are high in value (such as caviar extract). Additional value may also be captured further down the trade chain. Beneficiaries The direct use of CITES species makes important contributions to livelihoods of the poor, and these considerations are becoming increasingly important in CITES discussions. Indirect benefits from trophy hunting and manufacture of products derived from CITES species also contribute to local economies. In addition, many species make important contributions to ecosystem services that benefit human well-being. Improving the science-base and increasing capacity for trade data analysis to support robust non-detriment findings will be key. Where commercially important fisheries and timber species appear to meet the CITES criteria for listing and other management measures have not prevented population declines, early CITES intervention to complement existing management could be beneficial. Improvements in annual report submission rates are required for CITES trade data to deliver most value in terms of key processes (such as assessing sustainability, informing the Review of Significant Trade and detecting infractions). Development of an automated CITES Integrated Management System for detection and flagging compliance issues and checking and validating trade data could help address these implementation problems. Addressing large scale illegal trade in CITES species remains a key challenge. Whilst enforcement success is likely to rely heavily on existing partnerships and coalitions, new and innovative ventures are required to address emerging threats. The use of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) could assist in tackling illicit trade to more effectively track permits and detect fraudulent permit use. CITES contributions towards the Aichi Targets could be demonstrated with regular assessments of trends in reported trade from the CITES Trade Database and from the Review of Significant Trade.

5 Introducing Species+ To assist Parties in managing international wildlife trade, UNEP-WCMC, in partnership with the CITES Secretariat, is developing a 21 st century data-delivery platform for CITES species and trade information. Species+ will integrate the existing CITES Species and Trade Databases into one centralised portal for Parties to access key information on CITES-listed species. The initial phase will deliver an automated CITES Checklist to allow customized download of species information by Appendix and country. Future phases will include a new interface for viewing and downloading integrated species and trade data, trade visualisation to assist with non-detriment findings, and development of computer to computer communication to automate data delivery directly to national databases. The latter will have the potential to synchronise species lists across the world to ensure standardised nomenclature on CITES permits. Introducing Species+ A tool developed by UNEP and CITES for accessing authoritative information on taxonomy, legislation, distribution and trade in species listed in multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). Quick and reliable access to CITES species and trade data is crucial to day-to-day permitting and trade verification. To address this need, UNEP-WCMC and the CITES Secretariat are building a new data management platform to support Parties in accessing key information on CITES-listed species (scientific names, CITES Appendix, range States, trade restrictions and trade data). It is envisioned that the portal will reduce duplication of effort by Parties, provide a basis for e-permitting and ensure that decision-makers have ready access to up-to-date information in order to ensure that trade in CITES-listed species is legal, traceable and sustainable. Resources The CITES trade database: The CITES species database: Reports: CITES Trade: Recent trends in international trade in Appendix II-listed species ( ) CITES Trade: A global analysis of trade in Appendix I-listed species CITES at 40: Perspectives, trade patterns and future prospects For further information contact: Species Programme UNEP-WCMC, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL (UK) Tel: +44-(0) species@unep-wcmc.org Acknowledgements Publication of this brochure was made possible by the financial support of the European Commission, BfN (German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation) and the Department of Conservation, New Zealand. Photo credits: Rico Hübner (Vicugna vicugna); Mircea Bezergheanu (Ramphastos toco); Alexander Klink (Galanthus woronowii); Kenpei (Bletilla striata); Rich Lindie (Myiopsitta monachus); Claire McLardy (Crocodylia handbag); Mark Probst (Acinonyx jubatus); Xico Putini (Araucaria angustifolia); Rich Carey (Chelonia mydas); H. Zell (Hippocampus barbouri)