Understanding markets to conserve trade-threatened species in CITES

Abstract

International trade in wildlife is a major threat to biodiversity conservation. CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, is the primary mechanism for maintaining sustainability in international wildlife trade. However, CITES has been criticised because it relies on regulatory measures but disregards the economic reality of wildlife trade. Through means of a case study on the trade in pangolins (Manis spp.) in Asia, we critically evaluate the CITES approach to controlling trade and demonstrate significant inadequacies to it. This is because it fails to accurately monitor supply, particularly where trade is illegal, it fails to consider the impact of trade controls in realistic terms, and it does little to consider the complex nature of demand for wildlife products or contend with changing market dynamics. To more effectively manage trade we argue that reforms are needed within CITES. Specifically, improved monitoring of supply (e.g., by accounting for illegal and legal trade) and monitoring of demand and prices for wildlife (e.g., through national wildlife consumption surveys) would enable the Convention to function from a more comprehensive understanding of wildlife trade. These data, integrated with the Convention's existing trade database, would allow more realistic evaluation of trade controls, and could inform decision-making and the implementation of interventions which go beyond regulation and address demand directly. In a world of rapid economic and social change understanding markets and addressing demand as well as supply is essential to conserving the world's trade threatened species.

Recent Pangolin Seizures in China Reveal Priority Areas for Intervention

“…All four Asian species are actively traded in the region (Challender et al . ; Zhang et al . ), and since 2008 evidence for African species being traded in Asia has additionally highlighted the internationalization and growing complexity of the pangolin market (Challender & Hywood ; Zhang et al .…”

“…China is the largest market for pangolins globally with an estimated demand for as many as 200,000 individual pangolins per year (Wu & Ma ; Challender et al . ; Nijman et al . ).…”

<b>Records of the Indian Pangolin (Mammalia: Pholidota: Manidae: <I>Manis crassicaudata</I>) from Mansehra District, Pakistan</b>

“…There has also been an established international trade in Manis pentadactyla derivatives, principally scales, from northeastern India to Myanmar and possibly China (Misra & Hanfee 2000) and such trade has come to include Manis crassicaudata scales in recent years, including from Pakistan (Mahmood et al 2012;Challender et al 2015). There is evidence that the species is being severely impacted by hunting and poaching in India, which also occurs in Pakistan (Mahmood et al 2012 Challender et al 2015). Local populations of the Indian Pangolin occur in other provinces in Pakistan including Sind, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but they have not been assessed in terms of population densities.…”

“…Its skin has also been used to manufacture leather goods such as boots and shoes internationally, however, this species constitutes lower volumes in the trade compared to other Asian pangolins (mainly the Sunda Pangolin and Chinese Pangolin). There has been an established international trade in Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla derivatives, principally scales, from northeastern India to Myanmar and possibly China (Misra & Hanfee 2000) and such trade has come to include Manis crassicaudata scales in recent years (Mahmood et al 2012;Challender et al 2015;Mohapatra et al 2015).…”

Understanding implications of consumer behavior for wildlife farming and sustainable wildlife trade

“…In addition, assessments are often hindered by lack of comprehensive market data, difficulties in obtaining reliable information about illegal behaviors, and challenges to assessing preferences toward legally and illegally sourced products (Challender et al. ; Nuno & St John ).…”