Haled as a game changer by John E. Scanlon, Secretary-General of CITES, a Conference of Parties "that will be remembered as a point in history when the tide turned in favor of ensuring the survival of our most vulnerable wildlife".

The parties voted on 62 species-listing proposals, countless working documents, discussing law enforcement efforts and demand reduction strategies, as well as participating in numerous side events on topics such as the existing illegal trade in the totoaba swim bladders affecting vaquita porpoise populations in Mexico and of course empowering youth as future conservation leaders.

But all this talk can be confusing, what do all these resolutions and decisions mean? What will actually happen now to individual species and animals across the world?

The (Quick) Breakdown

The way CITES operates is that each of it government delegations from 183 member countries get a vote on proposed changes to wildlife trade practices. On a species level, these votes revolve around whether or not to include said species on one of the CITES Appendices (see below). Each country's vote counts as one vote, either a Yes, No or Abstain. NGOs, scientists and other governments can lobby the key decision makers during these debates.

Appendix I: Listing a species in this appendix grants it the highest level of international protection. No trade is permitted across international boarders unless in strict non-commercial circumstances such as for scientific research.

Appendix II: Species on this list are not necessarily threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade is closely controlled. CITES export permits are required to trade in specimens of these species and 'look-alike species' (species whose specimens in trade look like those of species listed for conservation reasons).

The Good

There were some substantial victories for conservationist this year, many lesser known species received a great deal of attention and the highest level of protection, including: