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

1. www.cites.org Life Sciences Symposium, WIPO, 26 August 2009 CITES: Wildlife trade regulations Patent Landscaping and Transfer of Technology under Multilateral Environmental Agreements Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

2. What is CITES?

3. What is CITES? • CITES is an MEA that combines wildlife and trade themes with a legally binding instrument for achieving conservation and sustainable use objectives

4. What is CITES? • CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora • It is also known as the Washington Convention, as it was concluded in Washington D.C. • Scientifically based and enforcement oriented • Targeted, focused and with implementation in mind. CITES has been in operation for over 33 years

5. What is CITES? …is relevant to an ever-increasing number of Parties 173 Most recent new Parties: Cape Verde (2005)Serbia (2006)Montenegro (2007)Solomon Islands (2007)Kyrgyzstan (2007)Oman (2008)

6. CITES, trade and property • CITES regulates commercial and non-commercial • international trade (export, import, re-export, introduction from the sea) • in (wild-taken and produced) specimens (live/dead, parts/derivatives) of listed animal and plant species • through a system of permits and certificates which are issued only when certain conditions are met (specimen is legally acquired; trade is not detrimental to survival of species), and which must be presented when leaving and entering a country

7. CITES • CITES documents are standardized for: • Format • Language & terminology • Information • Duration of validity • Issuance procedures • Clearance procedures

8. I II III CITES • Species subject to CITES regulation are divided amongst three Appendices

9. CITES-listed species 3% • Appendix I • Species threatened with extinction • Not to be used for primarilycommercial purposes • Almost 530 animal species and some 300 plant species • International trade is generally prohibited

10. CITES-listed species 92% • Appendix II • Species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but for which trade must be controlled to avoid their becoming threatened • International (commercial) trade is permittedbut regulated • More than 4,400 animal species and more than 28,000 plant species

11. CITES Technologies& WIPO

12. 12 CITES & WIPO How could WIPO and the patent system help mega-biodiversity countries conserve and use, in a sustainable manner, their wildlife resources?

13. Wildlife industry and tech-transfer 13 Commodity speculation Services/Drivers Ivory Hunting Safaris, trophies, falconry, etc. Souvenirs Rain-sticks, shells, corals, etc. Collections Zoos, museums, botanical gardens, circus, etc. Pets Live specimens (reptiles, birds, ornamental fish) Fashion Leather industry, cosmetics, wool (vicunas), furs, etc Healthcare Natural ingredients, medicinal plants&animals Housing Timber (mahogany, ramin, cedar, etc) Products Parts and derivatives Food Fisheries (Arapaima g.), caviar, meat industry and game meat

14. CITES-tech & traditional knowledge • Scientific research and traditional knowledge (risk assessments, population surveys, species monitoring by local communities, etc) • Production systems (wild, captive-breeding, ranching, artificial propagation, hybrids, genetics, etc) • Information systems (e-permitting, communications, market information) • Control systems (timber and fish industries tracking systems, microchips, satellites, DNA profiling, forensic technologies e.g. species identification)

15. Successtories

16. 1970’s =less than 5,000 vicunas Today = vicunas no longer at risk, fiber products patented

17. 1970’s = survival of all 23 species at risk Today = 16 species no longer at risk

18. Thank you • Juan Carlos VasquezLegal officerCITES SecretariatGeneva, Switzerlandemail: juan.vasquez@cites.orgwww.cites.org