Today was a bad day at CITES. You’ll forgive me if I keep this fairly brief but if I go on too long I might say something we regret.
But briefly, the resolution to protect tigers and re-affirm opposition to tiger farming is in deep trouble. China is firmly opposed, and most of the range states have gone along with them. It seems China is just too strong to stand up to now. Tigers will be debated over the weekend (fri-sat here) by UK and China. Maybe they will get a compromise. Â Interestingly, although China rejected ‘external forces’ being involved in conservation, they still requested financial assistance!
Tuna ban has been heavily defeated. EU, Monaco, US, Kenya and their friends all supported. Pretty much everyone else opposed. Big defeat. This is triumph for petty politics and short term interests. While it is true that the EU has badly mismanaged its tuna stocks in recent decades, the fact now is that this fish needs protection.
Ivory still looking shaky. Some sort of compromise will be thrashed out. Shark protection is also in trouble. Polar bear up-listing was defeated by Canada, who argued that inuit hunters must be allowed to export polar bear hides and trophies…
Basically the whole feel of CITES is very pro-trade, anti-conservation at the moment. The pendulum has swung. The other thing to note, for all those who think that it is only the developed world is unsustainable – the developing countries are just as bad!
