CITES conference takes decisive action to halt decline of tropical timber,, sharks, manta rays and a wide range of other plants and animals

CITES conference takes decisive action to halt decline of tropical timber, sharks, manta rays and a wide range of other plants and animals

170 governments have turned to CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) to ensure the legal, sustainable and traceable trade in their precious timber and forest products, with the Conference unanimously bringing hundreds of new timber species under CITES controls, along with a number of tortoises and turtles and a wide range of other plant and animal species.  Five shark species and manta rays were also brought under CITES controls following a vote.