SCIF and CITES

 What is CITES?

CITES is the abbreviation for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. It is a treaty among 175 countries that creates a permit system to ensure that cross-border trade in animals and plants, including hunting trophies, does not harm the species.  Permits are needed to export controlled species from their country of origin, and they are only available if scientists certify that the trade is not detrimental to the species.

Why is it important to SCIF?

SCIF supports and promotes trophy hunting as a form of sustainable use.  Trophy hunting is given special treatment under CITES because of its positive role in conservation. For a number of endangered species, hunting trophies are the only exports allowed.  The sustainable use of natural resources is often permitted under CITES, as scientists consider that controlled trade in some species may be more beneficial than no trade as such trade gives local people and governments an economic incentive to conserve a species.  The fact that a large majority of the CITES parties back such sustainable hunting sends a very strong positive message about the role of hunters in conservation.

What does SCIF do?

The countries which have adopted the CITES meet for two weeks every two and a half to three years (a “conference of the parties” or "CoP") to make major decisions on increased or decreased restrictions on trade in various species. SCIF can attend as an non-government organization with the right to speak as it is considered “competent in conservation” by the CITES authorities.  SCIF sends an expert delegation of staff and volunteers, including biologists and lawyers, to work with pro-sustainable use range states which are CITES parties to ensure that trade decisions are made on the basis of science.  A great deal of work is done in the years between these CoPs on issues which are anticipated to arise at the next CoP. This work includes helping range states with their conservation initiatives, including the co-ordination and funding of the scientific studies needed to support sustainable hunting.

Click below for the Sustainable Use Guide to CoP15 prepared as a service to delegates:  

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