CITES Endangered Species on Stamps

BOOK REVIEW
Total Pages 130,   A5 size,    
Total chapters 5.  Cites endangered Species, Cites Endangered species stamps from 1993 to 2023, Endangered species Day, New biodiversity Frame work
421 colour images philatelic materials used,
Publishers: The Write Order Publications.                
ISBN: 978-93-5776-681-4.   
Author: M. Lokeswara Rao IFS (Retd.)  
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (Retd.)   Price: MRP 1399   
Book Released by: Sri S.  Rajendra Kumar IPOS, CPMG, Karnataka Circle, Bangalore on September 26, 2023
 
More species are becoming endangered and pushed to the brink of extinction as a result of humanity’s reckless activities. Currently, the IUCN Global Species Programme is managing data evaluated for over 147,500 species by2022 (IUCN Red List Version 2022.1), and this number is set to increase substantially in the next few years. Over 139,600 species are well documented, with supporting information on ecology, population size, threats, conservation actions, and utilisation. More than 41,000species are threatened with extinction. That is still 28% of all species assessed. Amphibians: 41%, Mammals: 27%, Conifers: 34%, Birds 13%, Sharks and Rays: 37%, Reef Corals: 33%, Selected Crustaceans: 28%, Reptiles: 21%, Cycads: 69%. Millions of species still need to be assessed to determine their status.
 
Over 38,700 species, including roughly 5,950 species of animals and 32,800 species of plants, are protected by CITES against over-exploitation through international trade. They are listed in the three CITES appendices. The species are grouped in the appendices according to how threatened they are by international trade. They include some whole groups, such as primates, cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), sea turtles, parrots, corals, cacti, and orchids.
 
The urgent need for global cooperation to address environmental issues, protect biodiversity, and preserve the delicate balance of ecosystems led to the formation of international organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Similarly, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement established to regulate and monitor the trade of wild animals and plants to ensure their conservation and sustainable use. It is a global agreement aimed at protecting biodiversity and preventing overexploitation of species due to international trade. It is time to act to stop environmental degradation and protect wildlife, animals, and plants around the world.
Since 1993, the CITES Secretariat has worked with the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA), to produce an annual series of 12 stamps of animals and plants included in the CITES Appendices. This series is published in Geneva, New York, and Vienna, with special postmarks for first-day covers.
For the last 30 years (from 1993-2023), UNPA has issued stamps to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora, and to raise awareness about the multitude of benefits that conservation provides to people.
The book "CITES Endangered Species on Stamps" gives details about the CITES convention. There are 360 images of the stamps released by the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) from 1993 to 2023, and stamps with the CITES logo released by Poland, Chile, and Japan for endangered species day and first day covers were shown in the book. A total of 421 philatelic materials were used in the book.
 
The narrative is fascinating and the book is a visual delight. This book would be very useful to the environmentalist, forester, philatelist and student alike. A must read opus for all who hold the future of our planet close to their heart.  The book will be released last week of September 2023.