Editor's Summary
31 May 2007
A ban too far?
CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, has had undoubted successes in its first three decades. But there are concerns that the convention's severest sanction, a ban on commercial trade of a threatened species, can be counterproductive. Driven underground, the volume of trade of some species has been known to increase. In the run-up to the next international consultation on the future of CITES, a group of conservation scientists suggests ways to improve species management that would be in the interests of traders and conservationists alike.
Commentary: Can bans stimulate wildlife trade?
Proactive management of trade in endangered wildlife makes more sense than last-minute bans that can themselves increase trading activity, argue Philippe Rivalan and his co-authors.
doi:10.1038/447529a
