CITES-AGARWOOD : ENVIRONMENT

CITES-AGARWOOD : ENVIRONMENT

NEWS: Agarwood & India

 

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

CITES eases norms for agarwood export; move to benefit lakhs of farmers from the Northeast

CITES and Agarwood

  • CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora): An international agreement to ensure that trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
  • Aquilaria malaccensis: Known as agarwood, a valuable aromatic resinous wood used in perfumes, incense, and traditional medicines.
  • India's Achievement: Successfully prevented the inclusion of agarwood in the Review of Significant Trade (RST) under CITES, which could have imposed stricter trade regulations.

  Export Quota

  1. New Quota Effective April 2024: India announced new export quotas for agarwood products.
  2. Quotas for 2024-2027:
    1. Agarwood chips and powder/sawdust: 1,51,080 kg per year.
    2. Agarwood oil: 7,050 kg per year.

Cultivation and Benefit to Farmers

  • Regions of Cultivation: Agarwood is cultivated primarily in the northeastern states of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura.
  • Economic Benefit: This development will benefit thousands of farmers in these regions, providing a stable income source.

CITES Appendix II

  • Appendix II: Includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction but for which trade must be controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
  • Agarwood Listing: Aquilaria malaccensis was listed in Appendix II in 1995, following India’s proposal at the CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP9) in 1994.

 

 

Non-detriment Findings (NDFs)

  • NDF Study: Conducted by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  • Harvesting Guidelines:
    • Harvesting allowed from home gardens, community gardens, leased lands, private or community plantations.
    • Restriction: No harvesting from wild populations or protected areas to ensure sustainability.

 Impact of Previous Export Ban

  1. Informal Trade: The absence of an official export quota led to an increase in informal and illegal trade, especially to the Middle East.
  2. Global Market Impact: The restriction caused a rise in the global prices of agarwood products due to India's significant role in the trade.

 Illegal Trade Issues

  • Despite the ban, illegal trade of agarwood continued.
  • Seizures: More than 1.25 tonnes of agarwood chips and 6 litres of agarwood oil/derivatives were seized in India between 2017 and 2021, as reported by the NGO TRAFFIC.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

  • Establishment
    • CITES was established in 1973.
    • Entered into force on July 1, 1975.
  • Purpose
    • To ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
  • Membership
    • Comprises 184 member countries (as of 2023), known as Parties.
  • Appendices
    • Appendix I: Includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
    • Appendix II: Includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but trade must be controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
    • Appendix III: Contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.
  • Regulations and Compliance
    • Each Party must adopt domestic legislation to implement CITES at the national level.
    • Regulates international trade through a permit system.
  • Permits and Certificates
    • Appendix I Species: Requires both an export permit (from the country of origin) and an import permit (from the destination country).
    • Appendix II Species: Requires an export permit (from the country of origin) or a re-export certificate (if applicable).
    • Appendix III Species: Requires an export permit (from the country that listed the species) or a certificate of origin.
  • Enforcement
    • Compliance monitored through regular reporting by Parties.
    • Enforcement supported by national authorities, including customs and wildlife officials.
  • Conferences of the Parties (CoP)
    • Regular meetings (usually every three years) to review the implementation of the Convention.
    • Amendments to Appendices and adoption of resolutions and decisions occur during these meetings.
  • Significance
    • Provides a framework for conservation through international cooperation.
    • Helps combat illegal wildlife trade and supports sustainable use of natural resources.
  • Challenges
  1. Enforcement in countries with limited resources.
  2. Balancing trade interests with conservation needs.
  3. Addressing emerging threats such as climate change and habitat loss.

CITES and India

  1. Membership: India has been a CITES Party since 1976.
  2. Biodiversity: India hosts 7-8% of all species recorded by CITES.
  3. Biodiversity Hotspots: India has 4 of the 34 global hotspots: Western Ghats, Sundaland, Himalayas, and Indo-Burma.
  4. Trade Prohibition: India actively prohibits international trade of endangered species.
  5. Invasive Species Control: Measures in place to control threats from invasive alien species.
  6. Regulation Mechanism: Trade regulated through export certificates and import permits.

India Hosted CITES CoP3

  1. Event: Hosted the 3rd Conference of the Parties (CoP3) to CITES.
  2. Year: 1981.
  3. Location: New Delhi.

Significance: Enhanced international cooperation for the conservation of endangered species through regulated trade.

Source: https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/92856/OPS/GTPD4CDBV.1+G02D4E7KU.1.html