CITES and Livelihoods

Rural communities in certain parts of the world depend heavily on species of wild animals and plants for their livelihoods. Parties to CITES recognize the potential impacts of CITES-listing decisions on the livelihoods of rural communities, noting inthe meantime that effective implementation of CITES decisions can form part of a strategy to provide sustainable livelihoods for rural communities, consistent with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [Resolution Conf. 16.6 (Rev. CoP17)].

To better assess potential positive and negative impacts of CITES listing decisions and enhance sustainable livelihoods and species conservation, CITES Parties created a working group with the mandate to develop tools for a sustainable implementation of CITES listings. The current focus is to identify how legal and sustainable trade contributes to both species conservation and livehlihoods of rural communities.

Resolutions, Decisions and Notifications to the Parties

Tools and Resources

  • CITES and Livelihoods Handbook
   
  Part I Part II  
     

A conservation journey

From Poachers to Heroes

New case studies on best practices and successful experiences

Decision 17.36 adopted by the Conference of the Parties call for new case studies on how legal and sustainable trade can support the conservation of wildlife and improvement of livelihoods of rural communities. Notification to the Parties No. 2017/066 invited Parties to submit such new case studies to be reviewed at a workshop in November 2018. 

A template for new case studies has developed by the Secretariat with inputs from it partner organizations including IUCN-SULi. Developers of new case studies are encouraged to use this template for conducting new case studies.

List of potential case studies
 
Species-specific-cases
  • Aloe ferox and livelihoods of rural communities
  • Amazona estiva and livelihoods of indigenous people
  • Markhor and livelihoods of rural communities
  • Snakes and livelihoods of rural communities
Thematic cases
  • Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and livelihoods of rural communities
  • Certification of products from CITES-listed species from rural communities

Previous case studies

  • Crocodiles and livelihoods of rural communities
    • Study coordinated by the Organization of the American States (OAS) [Eng/Esp]
  • Shark listings and livelihoods of small scale fisheries 
    • Study coordinated by the Organization of the American States (OAS) [Eng/Esp]

 

Other resources


Heads of states wearing sashes made of vicuña wool at the APEC summit in 2016 in Peru.