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THE illicit trade in fauna and flora and their parts and products has become a serious challenge for many countries of the world. This illicit trade has expanded considerably over the years and taken the shape of organised transnational criminal activities. It poses a serious threat to those countries which are trying hard to conserve their fauna and flora.
In order to preserve vital natural resources to sustain the economic foundation and to create a healthy living environment, it is important that we preserve our planet's natural heritage. However, the excessive international trade in fauna and flora is having a negative impact on these fundamental issues. The removal of fauna and flora for commercial purpose constitutes a major cause for the disappearance of animal and plant species. Apart from the destruction of their habitat on account of over trading, animal and plant species are threatened with extinction today.
The trade in wild animals and plants has a considerable turnover and substantial profit. It is estimated that each year the trade in animals and plants and parts and products thereof, involves 25,000 to 30,000 primates, 9.0 to 10 million orchids, 2.0 to 5.0 million live birds, 5000,000 wild parrots and parakeets, 10 million reptile skins, 10 million furs, several million frog legs, 7.0 to 8.0 million cacti and over 5000 million tropical fish. This trade represents a turnover of more than US$6.0 billion. Certain specimens in this trade can command very high prices. For example, a trained falcon is worth between US $5,000 and $20,000, a kilogram of musk from the musk deer is worth US $50,000, a shawl made from Tibetan antelope wool is worth US $35,000 and an orchid may be worth US $2,000.
In addition, there is a huge market for dead animals or animal products. In the case of mammals, trade is done in hides, skins and furs for making coats, handbags, gloves etc. Trade is also done in ivory (from elephants or the hippopotamus), tiger bone, the gall bladder of bears and the horn of antelope. Many birds are sold stuffed. Feathers or skin for making cushions and bags are also sold in the market. Reptile skins account for the bulk of the trade in wild animal products, in terms of both volume and value. The skins of crocodiles and other lizards are used to manufacture a wide variety of articles: shoes, handbags, clothing, suitcases, watchstraps, belts, etc. Sea turtles are traded in the form of oil, soup, meat or articles of tortoise shell-like spectacles, combs and jewellery. Crocodile meat is also marketed. Wild flora is exploited in the form of roots, plants, logs and tree bark. The tonnage marketed is considerable. Such plant products are used in construction, furniture, ornament, musical instrument, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Such a diverse and huge international trade is now threatening the survival of plants and animals. The tiger, sought after for its skin (hunting trophies or bedside mats) or its bones (used in oriental medicine) had a world population of 100,000 a century ago, which has fallen around 5,000 today. There are now only about 100 pairs of Lear's macaw in the wild, yet every year Lear's macaws still appear on the illicit market. Several species of Madagascar euphorbia have been virtually wiped out by collectors.
Such a rapid decline or extinction of species was the reason for signing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (also known as CITES) on March 03, 1973 in Washington, United States. The convention entered into force on July 01, 1975 and has now over 140 contracting parties. It is the international legal framework for the prohibition of trade in endangered species and the effective control of trade in certain other species. The government of Switzerland is the depository of the Convention and the convention is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The representatives of the contracting parties meet every two years to examine the application of the convention and the control procedures and to revise the list of species protected, on the basis of the most recent information on the species' state of conservation and on trade developments. In order to apply the convention each state has to adopt a national legislation. The national legislation lays down penalties for offences and provides measures for trade and control of various species. The national legislation is required to determine the powers of the various government services responsible for applying the convention, in particular the powers of the Customs.
Depending on the degree of threat posed by international trade in fauna and flora, the convention has divided the various species of animals and plants into three categories (appendices). Important animals and plants included in the first category are: anthropoid apes (gorilla, chimpanzee), giant panda, certain South American monkeys, rhinoceroses, cheetah, leopard, tiger, sea turtles, coelacanth, Asian and African elephants, cacti and orchids and the like. On these animals and plants, international trade is prohibited. However, exceptions are possible if the importation is for non-commercial (e.g. scientific) purposes. Important animals and plants included in the second category are apes and monkeys, bears, certain antelopes, flamingos, parrots, hummingbirds, tarantulas, leeches, black corals and hard corals, carnivorous plants and the like.
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The writer is permanent representative of Bangladesh to the World Customs
Organisation, Brussels, Belgium
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