Foreword E ?
Canada signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on July 3, 1975. The purpose of the Convention, which has now been signed by more than 120 countries, is to regulate trade in the world's wildlife species and to protect the most threatened species. Under the Convention, Environment Canada regulates trade in wildlife species in our country through its Wildlife and Enforcement Team, in co-operation with its other government partners. The proclamation of the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, in December 1992, has significantly improved Canada's legislative ability to achieve the objectives of the Convention. In 1994, Environment Canada published the first of a series of guides for the identification of endangered species. Since its publication, the CITES Identification Guide - Birds has enabled Canadian and international officers responsible for enforcing CITES to play a more active role in the identification of bird species and, as a result, to more effectively regulate trade in them. With its second guide, Canada, which also signed the Biodiversity Convention in December 1992, hopes it can contribute to the protection of the world's crocodilians. The CITES Identification Guide - Crocodilians will ensure more effective identification of those species whose populations have been largely decimated and threatened by heavy trade. It will become an invaluable tool for identifying live crocodilians and for controlling trade in crocodilian skins and by-products.
Sergio Marchi Minister of Environment
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