For CITES to be effective, what must each member country develop?

For CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) to function effectively, it is essential that each member country creates and maintains domestic legislation that aligns with and enforces the treaty. This means that countries must establish legal frameworks that prohibit or regulate the trade of endangered species and allow for the enforcement of these laws, including penalties for violations.

The effectiveness of CITES relies not just on international agreements but significantly on how those agreements are integrated into national laws. Domestic legislation ensures that the commitments made by countries at the international level translate into actionable and enforceable laws within their own jurisdictions. This facilitates better monitoring, regulation, and control of trade in endangered species, fostering international cooperation and accountability.

Without such legislation, even well-intentioned international agreements can falter where local laws do not support or contradict these commitments, allowing illegal trade to flourish. Thus, developing robust domestic legislation is fundamental for the successful implementation and enforcement of CITES at the national level.