Five key takeaways for Latin America from the global wildlife summit

Yellow Frog from the Ecuadorian Amazon. Photo: Goran Safarek/Shutterstock

Most of the international trade in shark fins will be regulated for the first time, while a slew of new protections for Latin American turtles, frogs, and stingrays that are caught in the wild and sold as pets in Europe, the U.S., and Asia will be brought into force following a global wildlife summit held in Panama, which concluded on Friday.

The 19th Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which took place in Panama City from 14-25 November, saw signatory governments convene in Latin America for the first time in 20 years.

“The fact that this CoP was held in Latin America allowed for more participation from Latin American governments and NGOs, and I think it has allowed for more visibility of Latin American issues,” said German Forero, science director at the Wildlife Conservation Society Colombia, at the meeting in Panama.

“Usually, the focus [at CITES meetings] is charismatic animals from Africa and Asia, but people are now looking at problems beyond those big species. Wildlife trade is common in Latin America and, unfortunately, trafficking as well, but we’re talking about small species that are easier to smuggle: frogs, turtles, rays, and fish. I think that shift in focus is important as we look at problems in Latin America, which has very high biodiversity,” Mr. Forero added.

CITES is a global agreement first signed in 1975. It now has 183 signatory countries, plus the European Union. CITES aims to ensure that international trade does not drive wild animals and plants to extinction by regulating or prohibiting trade in species included in its appendices.

Appendix I is meant for the most threatened wild animals and plants, and international trade in these species is generally prohibited. Appendix II is intended for species that might become threatened by trade if it is not regulated. Commercial trade in these species is allowed if the exporting country issues a permit that confirms it was harvested both legally and sustainably.

As overexploitation and trade have been identified as the second biggest driver of the global biodiversity crisis, CITES has the potential to play a crucial role in minimizing harm to the planet. Here we take a look at five key decisions made at CoP19 that could have a major impact on wild animal and plant species in Latin America.

Most shark fin trade to be regulated

Among the most notable outcomes from CITES CoP19 were the decisions to add three families of sharks and rays to Appendix II, meaning international trade in these species will be regulated for the first time.

Panama, alongside Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, and 36 other countries, led a proposal to include all 56 species of requiem sharks (of the family Carcharhinidae)...

Aron White

Aron White is the Asia Pacific editor at China Dialogue. He has previously worked in wildlife conservation, including as a wildlife campaigner and China specialist at the Environmental Investigation Agency. He holds a degree in Chinese Studies and has lived in Beijing and Taipei.