World Wildlife Day is observed on 3 March, commemorating the date of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES was developed as a result of a resolution adopted at a meeting of IUCN (World Conservation Union) members. The text of the convention was finally agreed upon at a meeting of representatives of 80 countries in Washington, D.C., and signature collection began on 3 March 1973. CITES entered into force on 1 July 1975. Its provisions came into force in Poland in 1990.
The CITES Convention is to protect wild populations of endangered animal and plant species by controlling, monitoring and restricting international trade. Trade in wild animals and plants transcends national borders, so its effective regulation requires international cooperation to protect certain species from overexploitation. CITES has been created in this spirit. It currently provides varying levels of protection to over 40,000 animal and plant species.
It is prohibited – without the required permits – to transport not only live specimens but also products made from species covered by CITES regulations, such as furs or dried herbs. When bringing back souvenirs from your vacation, pay special attention to their origin and composition. Without appropriate documentation, you cannot transport items such as wild bear skins, ivory products, or traditional Asian medicines, which may contain, for example, tiger bones or musk. Every year, customs services in Poland confiscate hundreds of items attempted to be illegally imported into the country. These include traditional Asian medicines containing seahorses (Hippocampus japonicus), bags, hats and belts made from crocodile skin (Crocodilia spp.), and fans made from parrot feathers (Psittaciformes spp.). Detailed information on exotic souvenirs that may pose a problem during border control can be found on the website of the Ministry of Climate and Environment (You should know it before leaving for holidays).
The significance of CITES
CITES is one of the solutions for protecting wildlife, whose resources are being lost at an unprecedented rate. Direct drivers of species loss – ranked in order of severity – include habitat loss and changes in the use of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, environmental pollution and the impact of invasive alien species. These five main drivers are linked to indirect factors stemming from factors such as the dominant economic model, which favours growth in production and consumption, as well as social values and behaviours, the development of technological innovations and governance practices at both the local and global levels.
Nature plays a crucial role in providing food, livestock feed, energy, medicines and other goods essential to human survival on Earth. Over 2 billion people use wood as their primary fuel. It is also estimated that approximately 4 billion people use natural remedies, and nearly 70% of the drugs used to treat cancer are natural substances or synthetic compounds inspired by nature.
This year, we're focusing on plants
When we think of wildlife trade, we often think of coral products, alligator shoes or smuggled, colourful parrots. This year, however, special attention has been focused on medicinal and aromatic plants. Around 60,000 species of these plants are harvested worldwide, approximately 1,280 of which are listed in the CITES appendices.
Medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation and harvesting practices constitute an important source of income for rural households. They play a crucial role in providing income to marginalised communities in remote areas and contribute significantly to local economic development. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 70–95% of the population in developing countries uses traditional medicine as their primary healthcare, and one in five people rely on wild plants and fungi for food and income.
Between 2006 and 2015, the CITES trade database registered 54 million kilograms of herbal medicinal products, primarily from 43 species. Nearly half of these exports came from natural sources. Trade in medicinal and aromatic plant products is a significant economic activity. Global revenues from traditional Chinese medicine reached $83 billion in 2012. The European market for herbal supplements and medicines is estimated at $7.4 billion annually.
More information can be found on the CITES Convention website.
Source: Dr Natalia Ratajczyk, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection Dean's Representative for Sustainable Development; (Department of Biogeography, Paleoecology and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz)
Edit: Kamila Knol-Michałowska, Mateusz Kowalski (Promotion Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz)
