KAZA Summit

04.06.2024

KAZA Summit

Why in the news?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

At the KAZA Summit 2024, leaders of the Kavango-Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA) decided to oppose the ivory trade ban at the CoP 20 of CITES.

About Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

• It is an international agreement between 184 governments to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
• The convention entered into force in 1975. India has been a CITES Party since 1976.
• All import, export and re-export of species covered under CITES must be authorized through a permit system.

Appendix of CITES:

• Appendix I: Prohibits commercial trade of critically endangered species.
• Appendix II: Regulates trade to prevent over-exploitation.
• Appendix III: Protects species under national laws.
• Every two years, the Conference of the Parties (CoP), the supreme decision-making body of CITES, applies a set of biological and trade criteria to evaluate proposals from parties to decide if a species should be in Appendix I or II.

Ivory Trade:

• It is the commercial trade in elephant ivory tusks and other ivory products.
• At least 20,000 African elephants are illegally killed for their tusks each year.
• It threatens elephant survival, harms ecosystems, endangers local communities, and undermines security.
• It has traditionally involved smuggling whole or partial elephant tusks from Africa to Asia, where they would be processed and carved into ivory products.
• The demand for ivory has been fueled primarily by a growing middle class in China, where ivory carving is a longstanding tradition.

Reasons Behind Advocating for Trade Ban Lift:

Southern African leaders seek to lift CITES ivory ban for economic gain, citing $1 billion value. KAZA states hold a $1 billion ivory stockpile, with Zimbabwe's 166-ton stash worth $600 million.

                                                            Source: Down to earth

Ques :- With reference to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), consider the following statements:

1. It aims to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.

2. India has been a CITES Party since 1976.

3. All import and export of species covered under CITES must be authorized through a permit system.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

A.Only one

B.Only two

C.All three

D.None

Answer C