Cambridge (UK), 25 August
2010 - What do the Amazon peccaries, the
African hippos and the North American bobcats
have in common?
According to a new web-based, research tool
of the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES), they are among the top ten
mammal species being sustainably traded
around the world for their skins.
The Trade Data Dashboards,
that were launched to mark the 35th anniversary
of CITES, are a new, interactive way of
viewing the wildlife trade data submitted
by the governments of the 175 member countries
of CITES.
Users accessing the
dashboards can learn with a few brisk key
strokes that reptile skins, specifically
crocodile skins, are legally traded at a
high volume and that Colombia is one of
the major exporters of spectacled caiman,
the reptile most frequently traded for its
skin.
Whereas Interpol has
a database to track criminals involved in
illegal wildlife trade activities, the CITES
dashboard displays data on internationally-regulated
species that are legally traded under CITES
for purposes such as food, personal care,
housing, clothing and scientific/medical
research.
There are two types
of dashboards, available through the CITES
website (www.cites.org). The Global dashboard
displays global trade trends (e.g. global
trade in live reptiles and the top ten countries
importing live mammals), whereas the National
dashboard shows information by country.
Just like the dashboard
of your car, the CITES trade data dashboard
is designed to organize and present information
in a way that is easy to read. Users can
view data in several different ways, including
by:
Taxonomic group (e.g.
mammal, bird, reptiles, etc.)
Type of specimen (e.g. skins or live);
Source (e.g. wild, captive-bred, etc.);
Year range (in five year intervals);
Top species in trade over time; and
Top importing and exporting countries.
Users can consult the dashboards to determine
which species are traded, and in what volumes,
both globally and by particular countries.
The trade data dashboards,
which have been developed by the UNEP World
Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
under a contract with the CITES Secretariat,
will be a useful tool for monitoring the
worldwide trade in wild fauna and flora
as more and more terrestrial and aquatic
species are used, and sometimes over-used,
for human activities.
Mr. John Scanlon, Secretary
General of CITES said:" The CITES Trade
Dashboards make the trade datasets easier
to use and accessible by a wider audience.
They offer policy makers an additional tool
for identifying patterns of trade in listed
species and related issues that may require
special attention."
Jon Hutton, Director
of UNEP-WCMC said: "This tool complements
others such as the recently launched Integrated
Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT), which
provides general information on biodiversity
and natural habitats worldwide. However,
the database is composed exclusively of
CITES-listed species in international trade,
and thereby helps its users to identify
which animals and plants may be in need
of review and subsequent action."
More than 10 million
trade transactions in animal and plant species
have been reported to CITES since the Convention
was established. The CITES trade data dashboards
have transformed the ability of anyone to
understand current trade levels and trends
in trade. Indeed, by giving key decision
makers ready access to important trade information
helping policy-makers make the best possible
decisions for ensuring the conservation
and sustainable use of species whose trade
is regulated by CITES.
