With 184 signatory nations and regulating and monitoring the trade of endangered species across the globe, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) demonstrates a global/ transnational collective action. Governance in this case involves managing common-pool resources characterised by intricate ecosystems and a vast array of species that are interconnected with broader political, economic and social systems. As such CITES is shaped by the highly complex, multifunctional, multi-level governance environment and the different actors -who often table diverse perspectives, different priorities, resources, and capacities.
The diversity of actors and interests complicates governance, as different groups may have conflicting priorities. Despite the inherent conflict between trade (economic development) and conservation typical under CITES, various actors at different scales must cooperate to achieve collective outcomes. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to provide a thorough analysis of CITES as a governance system, identifying both its strengths and weaknesses; and second, to evaluate how interactive governance principles could be integrated into CITES. By applying interactive governance theory, we will assess CITES’ ability to engage diverse actors, manage conflicts, and operate across different governance levels. This could provide a pathway towards more resilient and responsive environmental agreements in the future.
