Defenders of Wildlife Assists Ecuador with International Wildlife Trade Treaty Compliance

A collaboration between Defenders of Wildlife and the Ecuadorian government yielded new legislation that will bring the nation back into compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Attorneys with Defenders and Ecuadorian lawmakers worked to identify a series of reforms that promote sustainable wildlife trade and protect wild animals and plant species.

CITES is an international agreement amongst 184 member countries that aims to ensure that international trade doesn’t threaten the survival of wild animals and plant species. To achieve this, member countries ensure that trade in wildlife is legal, sustainable and traceable by adopting national legislation that aligns with the requirements of the Convention. 

“This is a huge step in the right direction for the successful implementation of a critically important international wildlife agreement,” said Alejandra Goyenechea, senior international counsel for Defenders of Wildlife. “The Ecuadorian  government was cognizant of the impacts that non-compliance could have on wildlife and were motivated to find a fix. In a situation like this, Defenders is here to help.” 

In 2018, members of the Convention’s Standing Committee adopted a recommendation stating that Ecuador was at risk of being non-compliant because they did not have legislation that adequately incorporated the CITES Convention into their domestic legislation, including penalizing illegal trade in wildlife. The Committee’s recommendation stated that unless Ecuador adopted measures to update its laws, all CITES members should suspend trade in specimens of CITES-listed species with the country.

In an effort to maintain compliance, Ecuadorian policymakers provided a timeline they would follow in drafting the necessary legislation at the last CITES Conference of the Parties. This was considered a positive first step, but ultimately it was deemed insufficient to change the country's status.

At that point, Defenders of Wildlife lawyers began working closely with the Ecuadorian government to identify what reforms were needed and ensure they were made. After a full review of Ecuadorian laws and regulations relating to wildlife trade, Defender’s lawyers provided recommendations on the steps necessary to come back into compliance with the Convention and those recommendations were followed. 

At this year's Standing Committee Meeting, Ecuador's legislative progress was acknowledged and commended and the country no longer faces the prospect of a trade suspension. It is expected that Ecuador's national legislation will be formally recognized as being in compliance with the treaty at CITES' 19th Conference of the Parties later this year.