OPINION/COMMENTARY

CITES: UN-reasonable, UN-wise, UN-sanctioned

Thirty-three thousand: That’s the estimated number of plants and animals protected under the U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). Mind-boggling as that amount may seem, it’s sure to increase by Oct. 14, the end of a 12-day Bangkok conference of CITES’ participating nations that includes discussion of adding 50 species to the protections list. While protecting endangered species is a noble endeavor, every protective measure incurs costs that must be weighed against the desired outcome. The treaty purports to address environmental concerns, mainly through developed world funding. Most endangered species are in the developing-world countries, whose governments generally support a “sustainable use” agenda. However, such policies end up being a tremendous financial burden on those in the developed world—since most of the species in need of protection are in the third world, and much of the treaty’s costs are being devoted to items outside the treaty!....