UNIA Baeza Master’s course on CITES commences with international participation

Baeza, 22 April 2024 — This week, the on-campus period for the 15th edition of the International University of Andalusia (UNIA) Master's Degree course "Management and Conservation of Species in Trade: The International Framework" kicked off in the historic city of Baeza, Spain at the UNIA Headquarters “Antonio Machado.” This advanced training course spans from 1 February to 1 September 2024, and is dedicated to enhancing the expertise of professionals engaged in the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). 

Organized by the UNIA in collaboration with the CITES Secretariat, this year’s course draws over 30 participants from around the world, as a result of concerted international cooperation and investment in capacity-building. The CITES Secretariat, with generous financial support from China, the European Union, and Switzerland, has facilitated the participation of eight individuals from the CITES Authorities of Argentina, China, Cuba, Kenya, Solomon Islands, Suriname, and Togo. Other donors, including the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) WABiLED (West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emissions Development) programme, USAID/Zambia and the United States Department of the Interior’s International Technical Assistance Program (DOI-ITAP), have also provided support to participants of the course.

Over the course of three intensive months, the curriculum of this on-campus phase of the Master's course is designed to cover a range of critical topics including the legal international framework governing trade in CITES-listed species, practical insights into management and scientific principles under the Convention, and enforcement mechanisms to prevent illegal wildlife trade. CITES Secretariat also supports the course through the provision of its staff to act as lecturers, providing participants with firsthand knowledge and the latest developments in the implementation of the Convention. 

Chief of the CITES Secretariat Outreach and Projects Unit Haruko Okusu said: “We are grateful for UNIA and the Management/Scientific Authorities of Spain for their continued support in this long-standing initiative of collaboration between CITES and partners to promote wildlife conservation and sustainable trade practices. Through this course, the participants become part of the valuable source of knowledge and expertise in their countries, and in the meantime build their network and camaraderie with fellow wildlife authorities across borders. This not only enhances understanding of the Convention but also is key for sub-regional and regional cooperation on both legal and illegal wildlife trade trends.”