What is CITES ? Part One.

Picture Courtesy: CITES web page.

What is CITES?

 As an enforcement officer, this has been the question I have been asking to myself for the last half decade. Had it not been for the personal invitation of my Friend Mr. Lhendup Tharchen and Sonam Wangdi,  (to attend an in depth  training on CITES) I would have still been in the realm of obliviousness. I thank my Boss. Mrs. Yeshey Seldon, for consenting and agreeing to my proposal. Her approval has enabled me to represent my Department in the four day training (even though I missd one valuable day) and in the process allowed me to gain insignt as to What CITES and wildlfe are all about.

Since this is a very vast topic, I would like to share my experience with my readers in diferent parts. I hope my report will help every readers understand more about the consequences of unreasonable and lavish consuming of wildlife products in the form of 8 'F's. Namely: Food, Furniture, 'F'arma (medicines) Fuel, Fooder, Fashion, Fun and Folklore/fable.

I hope my report will also instill some sense of compassion in the heart of every individual for human are the total embodiment of compassion. As a human we know we have unmatched intelligence compared to the other species with whom we share our habitat. But at this juncture, let us also use our human intelligence in practically applying the concept of sustainability, durability and conservation when it comes to harvesting the wilflife products.

By the way the full form of CITES is: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild life flora and fauna.