8 November 2011: In a statement during the 41st meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council, John Scanlon, Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), highlighted benefits that could result if the GEF were the Convention’s financial mechanism.

In his statement on 8 November, in Washington, DC, US, Scanlon highlighted that CITES stands at the intersection between trade, environment and development. He said the Convention has operationalized the concept of the sustainable use of biodiversity, creating benefits for local people and the environment by regulating international trade in over 34,000 species of plants and animals. Noting that commercial trade is only prohibited for 3 percent of these species, such as tigers, Scanlon emphasized that CITES-regulated trade is a multi-billion dollar business. Scanlon also noted CITES’s contributions to sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), stressing that, with increasing demand for wildlife, further support is needed to ensure sound science is applied and that local livelihoods, natural and cultural heritages are protected. Scanlon also highlighted the sophistication of current illegal trade, in which organized crime is involved.

He said CITES’ implementation is critical for the achievement of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) objectives and the Aichi Biodiversity targets, such as target 12. If GEF served as CITES’ financial mechanism, he said, “there would be significant benefits to the GEF, CITES, States and the global biodiversity community, and it would enhance financial and programmatic coherence amongst the major Conventions.” Finally, citing the Convention’s recognition in the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) 3, he underscored CITES’ lack of a financial mechanism and the benefits from redirecting financial resources to help tackle the immediate threat posed by over-exploitation of biological resources. [CITES Press Release]