The governments attending the next triennial world conference of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are proposing new measures to safeguard and mange sustainably the bluefin tuna, elephant populations and a wide range of sharks, corals, reptiles, insects and plants.

It should be noted that immediate measures to deal with illegal wildlife trade and protect the livelihoods of the rural poor, would also be discussed by the representatives of 175 governments.

The conference to be held in Doha, Qatar, from March 13 to 25, will see more than 40 proposals getting decided.

It is vital to note that some governments offered to hike CITES regulations on some species, underlining the success of CITES in key areas 35 years after its entry into force.

"Many of these proposals reflect growing international concern about the accelerating destruction of the world's marine and forest ecosystems through over fishing and excessive logging, and the potential impacts of climate change on the biological resources of the planet," said a source.

The year 2010 has been named as the international year of biodiversity by the UN General Assembly. This year will see CITES Conference as one of the vital occasion for the governments to take action to protect biodiversity.

The adoption of urgent measures to: tackle illegal trade in the tiger, rhinos and other species that are on the brink of extinction; address the potential impacts of CITES measures on the livelihoods of the rural poor, who are often on the frontlines of using and managing wildlife; and allocate sufficient financial resources to ensure that CITES goals are fully achieved, are the other issues included in the agenda.

In order to ensure proper implementation of the measures proposed for adoption in Doha, an enormous budget increase will be necessary. The sum for the current annual budget of the CITES Secretariat is nearly USD 5 million.