Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora and its implementation in the United States of America, the European Union, Tanzania, India and Colombia: a study on the implementation of obligations under a multilateral environmental agreement

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), is a global agreement among governments concluded in 1973. CITES has 184 Parties and covers well over 38,700 species. Its main objective is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival through international co-operation. Despite its existence, illegal international trade of endangered species continues to be one of the major environmental concerns of present times. This suggests weaknesses within the legal frameworks that governs the trade both internationally and domestically and calls for re-evaluation of the existing frameworks. This study examined implementation CITES in five jurisdictions i.e. the United States of America, the European Union, Tanzania, India, and Colombia. It explored the legal and administrative systems set for its implementing, issues impacting implementation, what other jurisdictions can learn from the implementation practices in selected jurisdictions and what could be done to enhance the implementation of CITES generally and in case study jurisdictions.