CITES meeting hailed as "ground-breaking"

As the curtains came down on the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a conservationist said Wednesday that the gathering was ground breaking.

Ronald Orenstein, a board member of international NGO Species Survival Network (SSN), told Xinhua that the conference's resolutions went beyond the obvious by breaking new ground.

"This has been actually a very good meeting. The meeting made very important decisions from timber, marine species to elephants and rhinos," said Orenstein. "This preserves the crucial role for CITES as a protector against unsustainable use of natural resources."

New aspects decided by the CITES for the first time include a clampdown on corruption in relation with wildlife crime, tackling cybercrime in the area of wildlife, reducing demand for illegally trade in wildlife and encouraging participation of the youth and rural communities.

"For the first time there have been discussions on corruption. Currently there is a lot of fraud in the wildlife trade and this cannot be allowed to continue," said Orenstein.

Most animal rights groups were also happy with decisions taken to protect some of the most endangered animals.

The meeting agreed on stricter regulations to control trophy hunting. Those who came to the meeting with all kind of defence to protest the elephants, rhinos and lions, went back with smiles on their faces.

The ban on ivory and rhino horn trade still remains in place and experts have welcomed this move.

This year's meeting was attended by over 2,500 delegates and all resolutions taken will come into effect 90 days after Tuesday's end of the conference held in Johannesburg since Sept. 24. Endit