Interview SR Kultur on CITES COP 20
“Earlier I was talking about the newly discovered stony coral on manganese nodules in the deep sea, and if we emerge again now, we will be on this wonderful planet where there are so many wonderful species. You only have to name the really big ones, the acquaintances, especially those in Africa, for example, whether giraffes, elephants or the many, many others here too. They are all more or less threatened; especially the big ones and those who are under particular pressure can use it if we humans take care of them. That is why there is a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the so-called Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the signatory states that have signed it are currently meeting. This is the CITES COP 20 meeting. It is about binding decisions within this framework. It has been around for 50 years; an important tool to protect endangered species from plundering for international trade. In conversation here on SR Kultur is Priv.-Doz. Dr. Dennis Rödder from the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change.”
“Good morning, Mr. Rödder.”
“Yes, good morning.”
“I have already said that the main issue is international trade and that species should be protected from plundering. Can you give a very specific example?”
“Well, the international pet trade would be a classic example of this. A whole range of species are collected either for private keeping or for commercial use and sold internationally. This ranges from endangered species in very small areas to widespread species, but where quantity is the huge problem. Of course, it’s also about regulating it and not just banning it. This is exactly how species protection has changed in recent decades. It’s not just about designating protected areas where nothing is allowed to happen, but trying to work with the local population and set quotas.”
“One asks: What is still justifiable in retail and what is perhaps no longer justifiable in order to be able to guarantee sustainable use?”
“A good example is perhaps Bernhard Grzimek and ‘The Serengeti must not die’. This is an icon in Tanzania, but there is now also heavy criticism because national parks were established at that time and the people who lived there and worked in this ecosystem were simply displaced. Has that changed massively?”
“Yes, today it has become much more complex. We try to work together with all stakeholders – the local population and international organizations. According to the IUCN, this is called the One Plan Approach, in which all available options are exhausted instead of enforcing a ban against the will of local communities.”
“Where do we stand in terms of species loss, perhaps also in Europe?”
“Unfortunately, species protection is a big issue; In recent years, insect mortality has been in the media a lot. You can see it for yourself: In the past, you had to use the windshield wipers regularly on the motorway, but today this almost doesn’t happen anymore – the so-called ‘windshield effect’. Many things are no longer as present in nature as they used to be, not only in the tropics, but also here in the agricultural landscape.”
“Is that related? Does the protection of exotic species also help the species in our country?”
“It has different dimensions. The tropical biodiversity hotspots are extremely important for climate protection. Deforestation in Brazil, for example, affects one of the major CO2 reservoirs, which has a direct impact on our climate. On the other hand, our species also fall under CITES protection. The green frogs, which are in almost every garden pond with us, are currently being discussed; they will probably also end up on a CITES list in the next few days.”
“What can these lists achieve?”
“There are three so-called appendizes. Annex I is the highest protection status; no trade may take place there at all. Annex II requires documentation of how much is traded and sets export quotas. If you own such an animal or plant – such as orchids – you have to prove that they are legally owned. This makes a big difference, because customs at the airport can pick up illegal shipments.”