Two JNCC scientific advisors recently received prestigious recognition for their role in protecting endangered species through illegal trade.
Alison Littlewood and Nichola Burnett were awarded certificates recognising their outstanding contribution to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The awards were presented at a special ceremony at London's Guildhall hosted by UK Border Force and City of London Corporation, marking 50 years of the international treaty.
CITES regulates trade in over 40,900 species of animals and plants to ensure that international trade in wildlife is sustainable, legal and traceable and does not threaten the survival of species in the wild. The convention demonstrates how international cooperation can address global environmental challenges through science-based policy making and effective enforcement. CITES has contributed to the recovery of species that were threatened by trade such as the Nile Crocodile and Vicuna.
JNCC has served as the UK's CITES Scientific Authority for animals since 1991. Our scientific advisors provide scientific advice to Defra and other government departments to enable the UK to meet their international obligations in relation to CITES and to make sure that the UK does not engage in unsustainable wildlife trade. We advise on over 25,000 licensing consultations a year, covering a wide range of species traded for a variety of purposes including scientific research, commercial trade or zoo transfers.
UK wildlife trade controls support the government's commitment to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. These measures help maintain healthy ecosystems while allowing sustainable use of natural resources.
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