Previous Year Question
With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct?
IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments.
IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
CITES is legally binding on the states that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Only 1
2 and 3
1 and 3
1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
IUCN is an independent international union with a membership comprising governments and civil-society organizations.
It was established in 1948 and is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.
IUCN is not an organ of the United Nations, although it has observer status in the United Nations General Assembly. Therefore, the first part of Statement 1 is not correct.
CITES is an international agreement between governments; therefore, the second part of Statement 1 is correct.
Since both parts of Statement 1 are not correct, the entire statement is incorrect.
IUCN works on thousands of field projects concerning nature conservation and the better management of natural resources in different parts of the world. Therefore, Statement 2 is correct.
IUCN publishes the ‘IUCN Red List of Threatened Species’, which assesses the global conservation status of species.
CITES was adopted in Washington in 1973 and entered into force on 1 July 1975.
Its objective is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animal and plant species does not threaten their survival.
Species under CITES are placed in Appendices I, II and III according to the strictness of trade control required.
Appendix I contains species threatened with extinction, and commercial international trade in their specimens is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
Appendix II contains species whose survival may become threatened unless their trade is controlled.
CITES is legally binding on its Parties, but it does not directly replace national law. Therefore, Statement 3 is correct.
Each Party must establish its own domestic legislation and administrative arrangements to implement CITES provisions.