The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a treaty to promote wildlife trade that is legal and sustainable. CITES regulates international trade in specimens of species listed on appendices. CITES bans international trade. When there is no international trade then CITES is not triggered. Species listed under Appendix I are threatened with extinction and are or may be threatened with extinction. Appendix II species are not necessarily threatened but may become so unless trade is regulated. African elephants are listed under Appendix I except for the populations of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe which are listed under Appendix II subject to annotation 2. This therefore means that elephants from Zimbabwe are part of Appendix II and therefore protected under Article IV of CITES. This is because the species are not necessarily threatened with threatened with extinction now but may become so if international trade is not strictly regulated. Annotation 2, (b) sets a condition that when countries like Zimbabwe intends to trade elephants it must be only for ‘appropriate and acceptable destinations.’
The resolution by Conference of Parties 11.20 (Rev.Cop 18) defines appropriate and acceptable destinations as destinations suitably equipped to house and care for elephants’ sustainability and that trade would promote in situ conservation. The resolution conditions are stricter for Zimbabwe. The elephants must be within the species natural and historical range in Africa. In essence the treaty protect is a protection of species treaty.
