Limitations of CITES

CITES has had successes, but it has important limitations.It only controls international trade. It does not protect species from habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, or hunting and trade within a country's own borders, which are often the main threats.Enforcement depends on each country. CITES has no police force of its own. Parties must pass their own laws and check permits at borders, but in many countries customs and wildlife agencies lack staff, training and money, and corruption can let illegal goods through. Penalties are often too small to deter traders.Illegal trade continues. The illegal wildlife trade is worth billions of pounds a year. Rhino horn and pangolin scales are smuggled in large quantities, and pangolins are thought to be among the most trafficked mammals despite being moved to Appendix I in 2016. A ban can raise the black-market price, making smuggling more profitable.Identification is difficult. Border officials may not be able to tell a protected species from a similar legal one, especially in products such as powders, timber or processed skins, and permits can be forged. DNA testing helps but is expensive.Reservations. A Party can enter a reservation on a listing, meaning it is not bound by the rule for that species.Listing is slow and political. Decisions are made only at meetings every two to three years, and countries with economic interests may vote against listing valuable species such as some fish and timber trees.Conflict with local needs. A trade ban may remove income from communities that use wildlife sustainably, reducing their incentive to conserve it.