Statements by the Secretary-General
• CITES Secretary-General's keynote address at the 58th General Assembly of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation
• Archives
Press releases
• From paper permits to electronic technologies for better tracing wildlife trade in a globalized economy
• Archives
Other news items
• CITES and the UN International Year of Forests 2011
• CITES World
• CITES calendar
Press releases: Archives
14 June 2011: Launch of InforMEA – the United Nations Information Portal on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)
10 June 2011: Faced with “Empty Forests”, experts urge better regulation of bushmeat trade
24 May 2011: Wildlife Enforcement Task Force meets to combat organized crime targeted at elephants and rhinos
18 April 2011: Asian snake trade focus of discussions in China
11 April 2011: China hosts crucial meeting on the future of Asian snakes
8 April 2011: China celebrates 30 years of conserving and sustainably using biodiversity through CITES
23 November 2010: Powerful alliance to fight wildlife crime comes into effect

8 November 2010: The World’s Police are 100% against Environmental Crime

28 October 2010: Law enforcement essential if last tigers are to be save
14 October 2010: CITES extends controls on high-value timber at the request of exporting countries
6 October 2010: Success in fighting illegal trade in parrots
23 July 2010: Caspian States agree on quotas for wild caviar
30 June 2010: Wildlife trade regulation needed more than ever
25 March 2010: CITES conference ends without new sharks in its net
24 March 2010: Future for gorillas in Africa getting bleaker
24 March 2010: Bringing an organized response to organized wildlife crime
18 March 2010: Governments not ready for trade ban on bluefin tuna
17 March 2010: CITES spices the bluefin tuna debate with oils and essences
16 March 2010: Internet – good or evil for wildlife?
15 March 2010: CITES to discuss initiatives to dismantle criminal networks involved in tiger and rhino poaching
14 March 2010: Scientists meet in Doha to discuss global trade in timber and wild plants
13 March 2010: CITES world conference opens with call for new wildlife trade rules
5 February 2010: Bluefin tuna main course of CITES world conference
4 December 2009: CITES and INTERPOL joint forces to combat tiger poaching
8 July 2009: New CITES Guide to prevent illegal trade in falcons
6 July 2009: CITES meeting to introduce a new generation of e-tools for wildlife conservation
13 March 2009: CITES gets to grips with a slippery problem
20 February 2009: CITES meeting to discuss wildlife e-trade and cyber-crime
17 November 2008: UN meeting to tackle escalating rhino poaching
7 November 2008: Ivory auctions raise 15 million USD for elephant conservation
22 October 2008: CITES Secretary-General to oversee ivory sales
16 July 2008: Ivory sales get the go-ahead
14 July 2008: CITES meeting to consider ivory and timber trade
14 April 2008: Wildlife experts meet in Geneva to discuss the future of the South American cedar, mahogany, sharks, sturgeons and other species
3 March 2008: CITES publishes quotas for wild caviar from the Caspian Sea
4 February 2008: CITES appoints timber officer
30 November 2007: Database launched to track caviar trade
14 June 2007: African governments reach consensus on ivory sales
7 June 2007: Governments join forces through CITES to catch wildlife criminals
2 June 2007: Ivory sales get the go-ahead
May 2007: CITES conference to consider new trade rules for marine, timber and other wildlife species - Governments will also adopt a strategic vision and decisions on enforcement and livelihoods
28 February 2007: Governments to consider new CITES trade controls for high-value marine and timber species - New rules also proposed for elephant ivory and dozens of threatened plants and animals
17 January 2007: Country proposals on wildlife trade rules posted on CITES website
11 January 2007: EU ban on wild bird imports “disappointing”
2 January 2007: Following 2006 ban, CITES authorizes 2007 quotas for all Caspian Sea caviar except beluga
5 October 2006: CITES puts ivory sales on hold
3 October 2006: FAO-CITES agreement promotes sustainable fish trade Collaborative relationship formalized in MoU
24 September 2006: Central Asian agreement to conserve the threatened Saiga antelope takes effect
13 April 2006: CITES finalizes 2006 caviar export quotas
23 March 2006: CITES awards Certificate of Commendation to Nepal authorities for their combat against wildlife poachers and traffickers
20 February 2006: Earth Council e-Learning and CITES establish new partnership
3 January 2006: Exporters to strengthen controls and promote sustainable fishing before CITES can publish 2006 export quotas
28 October 2005: Controlling avian influenza is critical, but let’s not muddle the reasons for a ban on commercial imports of wild birds
12 September 2005: Biodiversity – Life Insurance for our Changing World
30 June 2005: Wildlife treaty comes of age – CITES celebrates 30 years of achievement
12 April 2005: CITES seeks meeting with Prime Minister Singh to discuss India’s tiger crisis
3 November 2004: CITES gives full backing to new IATA Live Animals Regulations
14 October 2004: CITES takes action to promote sustainable wildlife management and combat illegal trade
13 October 2004: Time runs out for illegal caviar trade
8 October 2004: CITES authorizes 2004 export quotas for Caspian Sea caviar
5 October 2004: Experts urge stronger action to combat wildlife crime
7 September 2004: CITES conference on wildlife trade to consider introducing new rules for high-value fish and timber
7 September 2004: CITES authorizes sturgeon export quotas for the Black Sea
3 September 2004: CITES has not “banned” caviar or “punished” producers
14 June 2004: CITES proposals on wildlife trade address over-fishing, illegal logging and recovery of large charismatic animals
12 May 2004: Governments propose new CITES trade rules for dozens of wildlife species
5 March 2004: Statement on trade in live dolphins
11 November 2003: CITES trade controls to take effect for mahogany
1 October 2003: CITES suspends trade in queen conch shellfish
5 September 2003: CITES authorizes 2003 caviar quotas as Caspian Sea sturgeon stocks start to recover
15 August 2003: Wildlife experts meet in Geneva to discuss the future of the queen conch, turtles, seahorses and other animals
11 August 2003: Scientists meet in Geneva to discuss global trade in wild plants
30 July 2003: CITES Secretary-General calls for prosecutions of those involved in the illegal trade of gorillas
30 July 2003: Statement on trade in live dolphins from the Solomon Islands to Mexico
15 November 2002: CITES conference ends with strong decisions on wildlife conservation
13 November 2002: Identifying the problem: A new guide to help law enforcers check trade in traditional Asian medicines
12 November 2002: CITES sets strict conditions for any possible future ivory sales
7 November 2002: Monitoring systems for poaching and illegal trade vital for CITES ivory decisions
6 November 2002: CITES seeks stronger action against organized wildlife criminals
2 November 2002: African range States agree a restricted ivory trade from four southern African countries
October 2002: CITES to decide wildlife trade rules and promote conservation
11 October 2002: CITES investigation leads to confiscation of illegally traded gorillas
4 October 2002: Illegal ivory trade driven by unregulated domestic markets
29 July 2002: CITES Secretariat assesses proposals for changing wildlife trade rules
4 July 2002: Russian tiger goes to India courtesy of CITES
14 June 2002: New CITES trade rules proposed for wild plants and animals
13 May 2002: Experts to tackle threats to medicinal and other high-value plants
15 March 2002: CITES incentives inspire vital reforms in wildlife management
6 March 2002: Caspian Sea states to resume caviar trade
21 February 2002: Further statement on the Cairo seizure of primates
16 November 2001: CITES moves to block caviar smuggling operations
11 October 2001: Statement on the Cairo seizure of primates
21 June 2001: Caviar harvest halted in effort to revive sturgeon stocks
18 June 2001: Governments to consider trade restrictions on Caspian Sea caviar
22 May 2001: Governments call for regional Hawksbill Turtle conservation plan
4 May 2001: CITES Secretary-General calls on airlines to reconsider boycotts of wildlife shipments
30 March 2001: Tiger Enforcement Task Force to target criminal networks