It’s the first time the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, known as Cites, is meeting on the African continent.

The eclectic  mix of policymakers,  activists and academics meets every three years with the survival of an increasing number of species on their hands.

Academics like Ross Harvey of the South African Institute of International Affairs says its an enormous load.

“Winston Churchill would have said about CITES what he said about democracy, that it’s terrible form of governance, but it is the best available,” says Harvey

Cites for example fears that tougher rules to protect elephants , currently being killed at a rate of around 

20 000 a year for their tusks could backfire and boost the trade in ivory.

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