Implementing CITES in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) controls the wildlife trade. All the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are parties to CITES. GCC countries are the prime destination of exported falcons and Oud. In 2016, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were the destinations of approximately 26.8% of the world’s seized specimens of agarwood. These facts justify examining countries’ arrangements for implementing and enforcing the convention. Researchers used the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework for inquiry. Sources of information included site visits, surveys, interviews, and documents. The researchers interviewed 742 interviewees representing different stakeholder groups. Results show that the present legal framework is not wholly conducive to an integrated and holistic measure for complying with the convention. Traditions and culture, lack of trained cadres, complicated procedures, inadequate coordination, lack of economic incentives, and imperfect information are challenges for effective implementations of the convention. The research confirms the importance of institutional setup, legal systems, and socioeconomic context in successfully complying with and enforcing CITES. Coordination between executing agencies, strict law enforcement, and capacity building contribute to the effective implementation of the convention.