The International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), has demanded a reduction strategy to combat illegal wildlife trade.
CITES Secretary-General, Ms. Ivonne Higuero, made this disclosure during a workshop in Bogotá, Colombia, adding that guiding consumers toward lawful, sustainable choices, demand‑reduction strategies help strengthen broader regional efforts to conserve CITES‑listed plant and animal species.
She highlighted the significance of these efforts, noting: “Illegal trade continues to threaten wild species, destroy ecosystems and harm communities that depend directly on biodiversity.
“Its effects go beyond conservation: it fuels organised crime, undermines security, and hinders sustainable development.
“We also know that legal, well-managed trade can support those who make their living from nature, strengthen local economies, and provide real, sustainable opportunities”, she stated.
Ms. Higuero said that the balance they seek, and reducing the demand fueling illegal trade is a key part of achieving the CITES Strategic vision and ensuring international wildlife trade is sustainable, legal and traceable.”
“These measures discourage and prevent the consumption of wildlife derived from illegally traded species,” she stressed.
The Coordinator of the Biodiversity Group of the Directorate of Forests, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and representative of Colombia’s CITES Management Authority, Mr. Luis Francisco Camargo, stressed the importance of the initiative, stating: “For many years, the response to the problem of illegal trafficking has focused primarily on monitoring and law enforcement actions.
He said these measures remain essential, but today there is an increasingly clear consensus within the international community: if we want to address the root causes of illegal wildlife trade, we must also understand and transform the dynamics that drive the demand for wildlife and its products.
“For Latin America, this meeting represents a particularly valuable opportunity. Our region is home to approximately 40% of the planet’s biodiversity, making us a key region for global conservation, but also a territory that is especially vulnerable to illegal wildlife trafficking.”
