South Africa was amongst the first States to join CITES, just a few months after it came into effect in 1975, and the country has been a very active participant in the work of the Convention ever since. It is a highly appropriate location for the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (@CITES #CoP17) given the frontline wildlife challenges and opportunities being tackled on the African continent.
Africa is home to a vast array of CITES-listed species and South Africa is globally recognised for ‘the Big Five’. Holding the Conference of the Parties in such surroundings should inspire all delegates. CITES Parties and observers all look forward to meeting in South Africa in 2016 for the world wildlife conference.
