CITES CoP 17: Making it a Success - Spring

Team Members: Sylricka Foster, Lauren Sevigny, Jamie Rae Hanson, Erik Berg, Andrew Chang, Yoichi Fukui, Arnaud Goessens, Nikita Iyengar, Peter Manyara, Rebecca Snyder

 Illegal wildlife trade poses a significant threat to global biodiversity, and international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) play a key role in regulating species protection. This project evaluated upcoming proposals for CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP17), focusing on species facing high extinction risk, including pangolins, devil rays, African grey parrots, and black rhinoceroses. Analysis of trade data, conservation status, and policy effectiveness found that weak enforcement, high market demand, and insufficient international coordination contributed to continued population declines. The research emphasized the importance of strengthening trade protections and closing regulatory gaps.

The findings supported stronger international protections, including transferring vulnerable species to higher protection categories and enhancing enforcement mechanisms. In addition to regulatory recommendations, the project identified public awareness and stakeholder engagement as critical components of conservation success. A communications strategy was developed to increase public understanding and support for wildlife protection policies. Overall, the analysis demonstrates that effective conservation requires coordinated international policy, enforcement capacity, and public engagement to address both supply and demand drivers of illegal wildlife trade.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Capstone projects.