Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)/ Washington Convention

• It is an international agreement to regulate worldwide commercial trade in wild animal and plant
  species.
  It was signed on March 3, 1973 (World Wildlife Day is celebrated on March 3).
  It is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
  Secretariat — Geneva (Switzerland).
• CITES is legally binding on state parties to the convention, which is obliged to adopt their domestic legislation to implement its goals.
• Classification: 
  • Appendix I: includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. 
  • Appendix II: includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. 
  • Appendix III: contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. Changes to Appendix III follow a distinct procedure from changes to Appendices I and II, as each Party’s is entitled to make unilateral amendments to it.

In News

• India has proposed to remove rosewood (Dalbergiasissoo) from Appendix II of CITES.
• India has also proposed to transfer small clawed otters (Aonyxcinereus), smooth coated otters (Lutrogaleperspicillata), Indian Star Tortoise (Geocheloneelegans) from Appendix II to Appendix I, thereby giving more protection to the species.
• The proposal also includes inclusion of Gekko gecko and Wedge sh (Rhinidae) in Appendix II of CITES.