Lecture 3/4: International conservation law

Benefits of ESA and NEPA

- requirement for evaluation of pollution or environmental degradation in the context of ecosystem function (NEPA)

- endorsement of intrinsic and non-economic values for resources and non-human creatures (ESA, NEPA)

- Emphasis on the undesirability of extinction (ESA)

- Renewable resources must be managed sustainably (ESA)

- Federal funding for research and habitat acquisition (ESA)

-Opportunity for citizens and NGO’s to participate in decision-making and avenues of litigation (ESA, NEPA)

CITES

- The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora

- most important international document in operation today, regulating or prohibiting the commercial trade of globally endangered species

- achieved much consensus by being intentionally vague on most of its important points, making it hard to see if it is a wildlife protection document or meant to regulate wildlife trade only

-if conservation of a species is being debated, this allows for trade to be an option if it enhances conservation efforts

Red data books

- during the 1960’s these were published as the most important source and respected authority for identifying the world’s endangered species

- these are now known as red lists

appendix 1 of CITES

- lists species that are endangered and vulnerable to existing or potential trade

-commercial trade of these species is prohibited and permits from both the importing and exporting country are needed for commercial support

appendix 2 of CITES

- species listed here are those that are threatened by large volumes of trade or that cannot be extinguished from a threatened species

- trade with these species requires a permit from the exporting country

appendix 3 of CITES

- These species are not globally endangered, but may be listed at the initiative of an individual country seeking international cooperation for that species’ protection

- nations are asked not to permit importation of these species without an export permit from the listing country