Stories about big cats to hit screens in World Wildlife Day 2018: UN agency
Reading 1
Task 1. Read and translate the text.
TEXT 1
CITES
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international regulatory treaty between 182 member states. CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN (The World Conservation Union). The text of the Convention was finally agreed at a meeting of representatives of 80 countries in Washington DC., United States of America, on 3 March 1973, and on 1 July 1975 CITES entered into force. It regulates the international trade in over 35,000 wild species of plants and animals.
The focus of the convention is not solely on the protection of species. It also promotes controlled trade that is not detrimental to the sustainability of wild species. It has become the best-known conservation convention in the world.
Illegal wildlife trafficking is a major global problem and CITES is the premier multilateral arrangement to address the problem.
The convention works primarily through a system of classification and licensing. Wild species are categorized in Appendices I to III. This often reflects species’ threat status on the Red List of the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species first created in 1964.
Appendix I prohibits trade in species classified as highly endangered. Appendix II allows trade under very specific conditions. This requires exporting countries to obtain a permit, but not the importing country. According to Appendix III species require only a certificate of origin to be traded.
For instance, elephants are protected under Appendix I and II because of the geographically differentiated threats facing different populations. Either way, if countries cannot demonstrate that the trade in ivory will not result in species decline, they will not be allowed to trade.
The convention faces a tremendously difficult task. It was initially designed to regulate trade, not to defeat illegal wildlife trafficking. The convention in itself is relatively powerless to defeat powerful, well-organized transnational crime syndicates. But working in collaboration with other multilateral agencies it can ensure greater success in regulating trade in species as well as protecting irreplaceable biodiversity.
Many countries do not have the capacity to adapt their national laws to enforce CITES provisions and recommendations. For instance, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is racked by internal armed conflict and therefore lacks the capacity to do so. But enforcement is crucial to ensuring the convention’s future efficacy.
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CITES is a crucial instrument for ensuring that species are not traded in a way that threatens their survival. If, for instance, the world wants to secure a future with elephants, member states would do well to shut down all domestic ivory trade, and to put all stockpiles beyond commercial use. The Elephant Protection Initiative, for instance, calls on members to do this. It provides an excellent example of states adopting policies that complement CITES regulations.
Elephants and other charismatic species are important to conserve not just because they have inherent value, but also because they play a key role in ensuring the ecological integrity of their migratory habitats.
These habitats – wilderness landscapes - not only preserve wildlife species, but also operate as invaluable carbon sinks. This shows us that properly regulating trade in wild fauna and flora is one crucial component of addressing other major challenges like climate change.
Task 2. Translate the following word and word combinations from Russian into English
Конвенция о международной торговле видами дикой фауны и флоры, находящимися под угрозой исчезновения; международное соглашение, Международный союз охраны природы; регулировать международную торговлю, дикие виды растений и животных; обеспечить контролируемую торговлю дикими видами; нанести ущерб находящимся под угрозой исчезновения видам фауны и флоры; конвенция по охране природы; контрабанда природных объектов; многостороннее соглашение; Красная книга видов, находящихся под угрозой исчезновения; сертификат происхождения; сокращение численности видов; защита биоразнообразия; обеспечить соблюдения положений и рекомендаций СИТЕС; торговля слоновой костью; вне рамок коммерческого использования; недостаточное количество возможностей; среда обитания; важнейшая составляющая; климатические изменения.
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Task 3.Answer the questions on the text.
1. What does the abbreviation CITES stand for?
2. When did the Convention come into force?
3. How many Contracting Parties to the Convention are there?
4. What is the aim of the CITES?
5. How many wild species of plants and animals are regulated by the CITES?
6. What do the Convention`s Appendices reflect?
7. What do the Appendices I to III impose?
8. Why does the convention face a tremendously difficult task?
9. What is necessary to secure a future with elephants?
10. Why are charismatic species so important to conserve?
11. What is one of the crucial components of addressing major challenges like climate change?
Task 4.Translate the following sentences using your active vocabulary.
1. Проект СИТЕС был разработан в результате резолюции, принятой в 1963 году на заседании членов Международного союза охраны природы.
2. Конвенция регулирует международную торговлю более чем 35 000 видов диких растений и животных
3. СИТЕС обеспечивает контролируемую торговлю, которая не наносит ущерба диким видам фауны и флоры.
4. Незаконная торговля объектами дикой природы является одной из глобальных проблем, и СИТЕС – главное международное соглашения для решения этой проблемы.
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5. Приложение I запрещает торговлю видами, классифицированными как находящиеся под серьезной угрозой исчезновения. Приложение II допускает торговлю на особых условиях. В соответствии с Приложением III, для торговли дикими видами требуется только сертификат о происхождении.
6. В любом случае, если страны не смогут доказать, что торговля слоновой костью не приведет к сокращению популяции животных, они не получат разрешение на торговлю.
7. Без сотрудничества с правоохранительными органами Конвенция не сможет противостоять мощным, хорошо организованным транснациональным преступным синдикатам.
8. Это доказывает, что надлежащее регулирование торговли объектами дикой фауны и флоры является одним из важнейших компонентов решения других серьезных проблем, таких как изменение климата.
Task 5. Make up a summary of Text 1 and retell it.
Reading 2
Task 6. Read Text 2 and translate it.
TEXT 2
Stories about big cats to hit screens in World Wildlife Day 2018: UN agency
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 05:03:09|Editor: yan
GENEVA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) announced Sunday that an international film festival will be held for the world's big cats, to raise global awareness of the critical challenges facing these iconic species.
The Film Festival, co-sponsored with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, will be one of the global events that will anchor next year's UN World Wildlife Day, which will fall on March 3, CITES said.
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CITES Secretary-General, John E. Scanlon, said: "All big cats are protected under CITES because unregulated and illegal trade poses serious threats to their survival. World Wildlife Day 2018 and the film festival give us a unique opportunity to raise awareness about their plight as well as the ongoing national and global efforts to save these majestic species."
The Festival will generate the level of attention big cats all deserve to ensure they are with us for generations to come, he added.
"At a time when the crisis can still be averted, it is essential to take action that empowers local engagement and personal commitment," explained Lisa Samford, Executive Director of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival.
"Our aim is to galvanize the power of media to inspire wonder, catalyze change and move the dial on the conservation of big cats. The festival will also engage the voices of local people from communities who are living with big cats, and seeking to support their conservation while securing a sustainable livelihood," Lisa said.
According to CITES, big cats are among the most widely recognized and admired animals across the globe. However, today these charismatic predators are facing many and varied threats, which are mostly caused by human activities.
The UN agency said that over the past century, we have been losing big cats at an alarming rate due to loss of habitat and prey, conflicts with people, poaching and illegal trade.
For example, CITES figures show that tiger populations plummeted by 95 percent over the past 100 years and African lion populations dropped by 40 percent in just 20 years.
The CITES Secretariat is designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the global facilitator for the celebration of the World Wildlife Day each year in collaboration with organizations in the United Nations system.
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