[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 83 (Friday, May 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ON INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL 
    TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA ON ITS 35TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 28, 2010

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution recognizing the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora on its 35th anniversary.
  CITES was created in 1973 to ensure that international trade in wild 
plants and animals does not threaten their survival. CITES entered into 
force on July 1, 1975 and thus will celebrate its 35th anniversary on 
July 1, 2010. Launched with a few signatory nations, CITES has now 175 
parties that have an international obligation and responsibility to 
protect our planets' endangered animals and plants. Nearly 5,000 
species of animals and 28,000 species of plants are protected by the 
Convention against over-exploitation through international trade. 
Adherence to these protective measures has proven to have benefited the 
conservation of animals and plants worldwide.
  Unfortunately, more and more species are at risk of extinction and 
international trade, both legal and illegal, has exacerbated the 
dangers. International wildlife trade is estimated to be worth billions 
of dollars per year and to include hundreds of millions of live plants 
and animals and derived products such as food products, leather and 
fur, ornamentals, medicinal, and timber. Such high levels of 
exploitation of and trade in wild animals and plants, together with 
other factors such as habitat loss, are capable of bringing some 
species close to extinction.
  Between 1979 and 1989 more than 600,000 African elephants were killed 
for their ivory, cutting the continent's population in half. 
Nevertheless, poaching has continued with an estimated 38,000 elephants 
killed annually and 23.2 tons of poached ivory seized since 2007. As 
sea ice declines, polar bears will not be able to adapt to a 
terrestrial-based life resulting in increased mortality, reduced 
reproduction, increased human-bear conflicts, and overall drastic 
decline of populations. Several sharks have been severely depleted with 
declines as high as 99 percent in some areas as a result of the high 
demand for their fins and meat. Overfishing, increased consumer demand 
and inadequate enforcement of infractions have led to historically low 
populations of bluefin tuna.
  Every two to three years the parties of CITES meet at the Conference 
of the Parties to review the status of species in danger of extinction 
and establish trade restrictions. The 15th meeting of the Conference of 
the Parties was held in March 2010. Several proposals were submitted 
during the summit, some of them ensuring better protections for 
endangered species, others trying to downlist species and re-open 
trade. While proposals to downlist elephant populations in Tanzania and 
Zambia were successfully defeated, several proposals to establish 
stronger protections for the polar bear, eight sharks, the bluefin tuna 
and other species were unfortunately rejected. I am saddened to see 
that economic interests have prevailed over species conservation, 
risking to bring species close to extinction. This is unacceptable.
  My resolution will congratulate the Convention on its 35th 
anniversary and recognize the important contributions it has made since 
its establishment in regulating international trade in endangered 
species and protecting endangered species worldwide. It will also 
applaud the Convention's recent leadership in protecting elephants in 
Tanzania and Zambia. Lastly, the resolution will urge all parties to 
the Convention to collaborate effectively to curb excessive 
exploitation of species for international trade and, in particular, to 
adopt stronger protections for the polar bear, sharks, bluefin tuna and 
other endangered species at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the 
Parties in 2013.
  Madam Speaker, the United States has a moral obligation to protect 
endangered species and their natural habitat. Wild animals are a very 
important part of our commonly held natural resources and contribute to 
the diversity and stability of our environment. We must continue to 
maintain a balanced and healthy ecosystem that allows for the 
coexistence of both human beings and the world's most incredible 
species.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in protecting wildlife and 
environmental conservation across the globe by supporting this 
important resolution.

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