Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

The 183 Parties were discussing 120 documents and 62 proposals at the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to the Convention on International Trade...

The lions are once again kings of Timbavati in Limpopo. But their numbers in the wild remain small. CITES CoP17 is opening on 24...

There are just 12 white lions remaining in the wild. This is the reason the Global White Lion Protection Trust is enlisting the help...

It's all systems go as South Africa signs the host country agreement for the CITES CoP17 World Wildlife Conference to be held in Johannesburg this year. The logo for the conference, featuring a white rhino, has also been unveiled. The conference will focus on the illegal trade in endangered species.

Namibia, Angola and Zambia have agreed to set up a time-bound action plan to manage and monitor the timber trade. High-value timber from the three southern African countries, often bound for South Africa and Asia, is subject to overharvesting and illegal and unregulated trade.

Environmental Management Inspectors - commonly known as the Green Scorpions - have been deployed at South Africa's busiest airport to combat transgressions of the country's environmental laws, especially those relating to trade in endangered species.

South African Department of Environmental Affairs is considering legalising trade in rhino horn as a medium-term solution to rhino poaching. This is just one of the measures that the department is undertaking to slow down the killing of the animals.

South African Department of Environmental Affairs is considering legalising trade in rhino horn as a medium-term solution to rhino poaching. This is just one of the measures that the department is undertaking to slow down the killing of the animals.

The South African government has appointed a panel of experts to advise it on the likely effects of legalising the global rhino horn trade on the levels of rhino poaching in the country, but has made no final decision or proposal on the issue, says the Department of Environmental Affairs.

During the Rhino Summit held in Pretoria in early October, Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica reiterated her department’s commitment to bringing poachers to book. Read her keynote speech.
• Wildlife poachers to be taken down