Question: Where did the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CITES (CoP18) take place?
(a) Geneva
(b) London
(c) Paris
(d) Washington
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
- The 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP18), held in Geneva, Palexpo, from 17 to 28 August 2019.
- 183 CITES member nations participated in the latest meeting held in Geneva.
- A key highlight was the 57 proposals that governments have submitted for changing the levels of protection afforded to over 500 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and plants.
- The 71st and 72nd meetings of the Standing Committee held at the same venue on 16 August and 28 August respectively.
- Objective: The meet aimed at the discussion over the future of the ivory trade, illegal killings of rhinos and the rhino horn trade, management of African elephant populations, and the booming exotic pet business.
About CITES:
- It is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals.
- It came into force in 1975 with the goal of ensuring that international trade does not threaten the survival of wild plants and animals.
- It is administered through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
- Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
CITES Appendix:
- It classifies plants and animals according to three categories, or appendices, based on the level of threats faced by them.
- Appendix I: It includes species threatened with extinction. CITES completely bans commercial trade in specimens of these species. But is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
- Appendix II: It provides a lower level of protection.
- Appendix III: It contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.
Links:
https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/10jul2019.html