NEW DELHI: India will seek the support of the international community for the conservation of wildlife, especially in its endeavour in protecting the endangered tiger, at the ongoing Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora at The Hague.

Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena, who will attend the ministerial round of the conference, will stress the need to check illegal trade in tiger products.

India has already constituted a National Wildlife Crime Control Bureau for controlling the illegal trade.

A resolution is being proposed for finalising the definition of marine environment, not under the jurisdiction of any state. As the legal ambit is involved in the definition, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has sought the opinion of the External Affairs Ministry and the Department of Ocean Development before finalising India's position.

It is being proposed to review the harmonisation of the national and international guidelines for transportation of live animals/plants and propose revision, if necessary. India supports both the revision of the resolution and the decision.

The country reports on Asian big cats will be discussed, and India's report on tiger conservation measures has been submitted to the CITES Secretariat. India has proposed signing a tripartite protocol with Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh on tigers. The matter is being taken up by the External Affairs Ministry.

There will be a discussion on the African ivory trade. India has been opposing the opening of trade in African ivory. The Convention is an international agreement among the governments to ensure that trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. At present, there are 171 countries which are party to the CITES and India has signed the Convention in July 1976, which was ratified in October 1976.

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