Government inaction could shortly cause Bolivia to be shut out of the global system for legal trade in endangered wild animal and plant species. During 2002 and 2003, the standing committee, or policy arm, of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) asked Bolivia to submit a “Legislation Plan” to Cites’ executive unit, called the secretariat. The plan had to define steps being taken to adopt adequate trade and conservation steps by a deadline of Dec. 31, 2003. But Bolivia had made little progress by the time the deadline passed. If Bolivia is suspended from Cites-approved trade in endangered species, many of its efforts to develop bio-commerce based on the sustainable use of wild resources will... [Log in to read more]