Friday, March 26th, 2010

Trade Talks on Endangered Species

CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, is an international agreement between governments aimed at setting common rules on trade in endangered species.

Representatives from countries around the world met in Doha, Qatar this week to debate trade rules governing various wild plants and animals. At the meeting, restraints on trade were set on some species, including a large rhinoceros beetle found only in wet forests in Bolivia and Kaiser's Spotted Newt, a salamander found in Iran. Trade restrictions were voted down, however, on bluefin tuna, pink and red corals, and three species of hammerhead sharks. We'll get an update on the meeting and its decisions.