U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Understanding CITES CITES Appendix II Supports Sustainable Use
The Convention on International Trade extinction, may become so without In the United States, the U.S. Fish in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna trade controls. It also includes species and Wildlife Service is home to these and Flora (CITES) entered into force that resemble other listed species and two offices. Exporters must obtain in 1975. It is the only global treaty need to be regulated in order to effec- a CITES permit from their national to ensure that international trade in tively control the trade in those other CITES Management Authority for plants and animals does not threaten listed species. Most CITES species each shipment that contains CITES- the survival of the species. It provides a are listed in this appendix, including listed specimens. Export permits for framework for cooperation and collabora- American ginseng, paddlefish, lions, Appendix-II specimens can be issued tion among nations to prevent decline in American alligators or mahogany. only when the following findings are wild populations of animals and plants. made: Currently 176 countries (called Parties), Appendix III includes species for including the United States, implement which a range country has asked CITES. other Parties to help in controlling international trade. Examples include The CITES Appendices the walrus and alligator snapping Cacti, iguanas, and parrots represent- turtle. some of the approximately 35,000 species protected by CITES. Species protected CITES Appendix II is: under CITES are listed in one of three NOT a list of species in which inter- appendices. national trade is prohibited. CITES Appendix-II species may be traded Appendix I includes species threat- internationally if accompanied by ap-
ened with extinction and provides the propriate permits. Kohn/USFWS Frank greatest level of protection, includ- Barrel Cactus, CITES Appendix II ing restrictions on commercial trade. NOT a list of endangered species. A scientific finding of non-detriment: Examples include gorillas, sea turtles, CITES helps support natural resource The Scientific Authority must be able most lady slipper orchids, and giant management programs in range coun- to find that the export of an Appendix- pandas. tries to prevent endangerment. II specimen is not detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild. The Appendix II includes species that, al- NOT a ban or boycott of trade. CITES non-detriment finding is key to the though currently not threatened with helps regulate and monitor trade for long-term sustainability of the spe- species vulnerable to cies. Depending on the species and overuse, and imple- activity, the Scientific Authority will ments measures to either make a programmatic finding attain sustainable for a year or longer or a finding on a harvest and legal case-by-case basis. If the Scientific trade. Authority is unable to make a positive finding, permits will not be issued for North American Exporting a CITES the export. River Otter, CITES Appendix-II Species Appendix II CITES is implement- A finding that specimens were ac- ed through an inter- quired legally: Evidence must be national permitting provided to show that specimens were system. Each Party not obtained in violation of any state, designates Manage- federal, or other jurisdictional law. ment and Scientific Authorities to process Live animal and plant shipments. All permits, make legal shipments of live animals and plants must and scientific findings, be prepared to minimize risk of injury, and monitor trade. damage to health, or cruel treatment. In Eric Bégin CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Eric Bégin CC BY-NC-ND the case of air transport, animals must be survival of species in the wild. Captive ditions and enforce CITES provisions; shipped in accordance with International breeding of animals and artificial propa- gation of plants can affect the survival of Increased public awareness of the im- the species in the wild. But, specimens portant role CITES plays to conserve produced in captivity or under controlled animals and plants, and a broader conditions are typically lower risk to the body of information on which to base survival of the species than specimens consumer decisions; collected from the wild. As such, it is usually easier for CITES authorities to make the necessary findings for animals produced in captivity and plants propa- gated under controlled conditions.
Potential Benefits of Appendix-II Export Controls to Commercial Interests:
Orin Zebest CC BY 2.0 Orin Zebest CC BY Longstanding international coopera- Venus Flytrap, CITES Appendix II tion is the basis of CITES’ effectiveness. Air Transport Association (IATA) Live The support of businesses, consumers, Animals Regulations. and the general public is vital to balanc- ing conservation and trade needs within Look-alike species. Sometimes species countries. Listing a species in Appendix
II can produce the following benefits: 2.0 Dominik Hofer CC BY-NC-SA are listed in Appendix II to enable ef- Green Iguana, CITES Appendix II fective regulation of other listed species. Usually, this type of listing is necessary Validation (through CITES permits) Assurance of long-term species sus- when species, or their parts or products, that the specimen has come from legal tainability through control of trade, resemble other listed species and could and sustainable sources, and has met and consumer confidence that spe- cause identification difficulties. Look- international standards; cies are being used in ways that are alike species are monitored to ensure not harmful to their role within the that they are not adversely affected by Assurance that trade practices follow ecosystem. trade. Examples include the American principles of sustainability; black bear and river otter. Uniform responsibility to address Captive Breeding and Artificial Propa- illegal trade, since all countries must gation. CITES is concerned with the meet the same CITES permitting con-
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