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

2 What is CITES?

3 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 CITES Species subject to CITES regulation are divided amongst three Appendices I II III

9 CITES-listed species Appendix I – –Species threatened with extinction – –Not to be used for primarily commercial purposes – –Almost 530 animal species and some 300 plant species – –International trade is generally prohibited

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

11 CITES Technologies & WIPO

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

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 Succes stories

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

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

Thank you Juan Carlos Vasquez Legal officer CITES Secretariat Geneva, Switzerland