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

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 works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. CITES is newsworthy due to recent actions taken to protect endangered species. One article reports the arrest of a man in Hong Kong for possessing 14 endangered reptiles, highlighting the ongoing illegal trade CITES aims to combat. Another article details how the treaty has extended trade protections to over 70 shark and ray species, reflecting a growing concern for marine life conservation and the role of CITES in regulating their trade. These events demonstrate CITES's continued relevance in addressing the threats posed by international trade to vulnerable species.