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As a geographically isolated country with many unique plants and animals and as a country dependent on activities such as agriculture, fishing and forestry for our economic wellbeing, New Zealand has a strong interest in species conservation. New Zealand therefore plays an active role in the operation of international treaties relating to species conservation with a particular interest in the protection of marine species such as whales.
In 1989 New Zealand joined the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is a global treaty focusing on the protection of endangered wild plants and animals from the consequences of unregulated trade. It gives importing and exporting countries joint responsibility for managing wildlife sustainably and preventing illegal trade. It provides varying degrees of protection to wild animals and plants depending on their scarcity and how much damage international trade will do to them. A permit system monitors and controls trade in listed species, their parts and by-products. More information is available on the CITES website.
The Department of Conservation is New Zealand’s CITES Management Authority and can provide advice to anyone intending to import or export CITES listed species to and from New Zealand.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade works closely with experts from the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Fisheries in New Zealand’s participation in CITES meetings.
