The
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List Categories and
Criteria are intended to be an easily and widely understood system for
classifying species at high risk of global extinction. The general aim of the
system is to provide an explicit, objective framework for the classification of the broadest range of
species according to their extinction risk. However, while the Red List may
focus attention on those taxa at the highest risk, it is not the sole means of
setting priorities for conservation measures for their protection.
CITES (the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an
international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that
international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten
their survival.
Because the trade in wild
animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to regulate it
requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from
over-exploitation. CITES was conceived in the spirit of such cooperation.
Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 30,000 species of
animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or
dried herbs.
Handout can be downloaded here
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