Address domestic pressures on endangered species.

The article discusses the impact of local demand for meat on the decline of wild pangolins in African forests, highlighting the limitations of international trade regulations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Despite the prohibition of commercial international trade for four African pangolin species under CITES Appendix I, local consumption drives significant exploitation, with much of the pangolin scales discarded. The article emphasizes that addressing local use and consumption is crucial for effective conservation efforts, as many species are more affected by domestic pressures than by international trade. It calls for CITES to consider local and international drivers of species decline in its conservation strategies and to collaborate with local authorities for targeted interventions. [Extracted from the article]