Exotic species

• Exotic species, often referred to as alien, nonnative, nonindigenous, or introduced species, are those that occur in areas outside of their natural geographic range.
• The presence of an exotic species may have a significant effect on the local ecosystem. The ecological impact varies; it may generally bring adverse effects to the ecological balance in an ecosystem or it may be beneficial.
• At other times, the effect is not too significant to cause major changes in the ecosystem.

Chief Wildlife Warden

• The Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) is the statutory authority, under the Wildlife Protection Act, who heads the Wildlife Wing of the department and exercises complete administrative control over Protected Areas (PAs) within a state. Every PA is typically classified as a Wildlife Division and is headed by a Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF).

CITES and Appendices

• Convention on Illegal Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is an international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

• It is also referred to as the Washington Convention.
• It is legally binding on the Parties, but  it does not take the place of national laws of parties. States have to adopt their own domestic legislation to implement its goals.
• It is administered through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Geneva, Switzerland.
• The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.

Appendix I: 

• Most endangered plants and animals.
• Examples include gorillas, giant pandas etc.,.
• They are threatened with extinction and CITES prohibits international trade in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, for instance for scientific research.

Appendix II: 

• Not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled.
• Most CITES species are listed in this Appendix.
• It also includes “look-alike species“, i.e. species whose specimens in trade look like those of species listed for conservation reasons.
• International trade in specimens of Appendix-II species may be authorized by the granting of an export permit or re-export certificate.

Appendix III

• List of species that are included at the request of a party.
• Trade is allowed with the presentation of documents.

Why in the news?

• The Environment Ministry’s wildlife division has introduced new rules to regulate the import and export of ‘exotic wildlife species’.
• Under the new rules, owners and possessors of such animals and birds must also register their stock with the Chief Wildlife Warden of their States.
• Stockists of exotic species will have six months to declare their stock.
• The centre has given a list of exotic species according to Appendix I, II and III.
• This list does not include species listed under Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

Wildlife Trafficking as a threat

• In its first global report on the illegal wildlife trade, released last week, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) described wildlife trafficking as a “global threat”, which also has links with other organised crimes such as modern slavery, drug trafficking and arms trade.
• According to World Wildlife Crime Report 2016 of the UN, criminals are illegally trading products derived from over 7,000 species of wild animals and plants across the world.
• The illegal trade is estimated to generate revenues of up to $23 billion a year.