Cites - what's at stake?

Abstract

The world's gaze is currently set on Qatar for the 15th conference of parties (CoP) of Cites, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which runs till Thursday. During CoPs, which are normally held every two or three years, plant and animal species are proposed for inclusion in or removal from the appendices of Cites. The customary horse-play between parties during these meetings will ultimately decide the fate of a number of species, including the polar bear, the African elephant, the grey wolf, the Nile crocodile, the tree frog, a number of shark species and, of special relevance to Malta, the Atlantic bluefin tuna, and pink and red coral species.