Analysis of 2012 CITES export quotas

(Version edited for public release)

Prepared for the European Commission Directorate General Environment ENV.E.2. – Environmental Agreements and Trade

by the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre

May 2012

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CITATION UNEP-WCMC (2012). Analysis of 2012 CITES export quotas. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge.

Contents

1. Introduction ...... 2

2. Species with new, increased or decreased quotas in 2012 ...... 2 2.1. Acipenseriformes ...... 2 2.2. Other species (non Acipenseriformes) ...... 2

Table 1. Species subject to newly established quotas in 2012...... 5 Table 2. Species subject to increased quotas in 2012...... 7 Table 3. Species subject to decreased quotas in 2012...... 10

1. Introduction

Export quotas are usually established by each Party to CITES unilaterally on a voluntary basis, but they can also be set by the Conference of the Parties or result from recommendations of the Animals and Plants Committees. For Acipenseriformes species, the COP indicated that quotas should be established and communicated to the Secretariat for meat and caviar from stocks shared between different Range States [Resolution Conf. 12.7 (Rev. CoP14)]. Guidance on the use of export quotas is available through Resolution Conf. 14.7 (Rev. CoP15) on the Management of nationally established export quotas.

To ensure that national quotas are effectively communicated, countries should inform the CITES Secretariat when they establish national export quotas for CITES species (Resolution Conf. 12.3 [Rev. CoP15]). In turn the Secretariat informs the Parties. Early each year, the Secretariat publishes a Notification to the Parties containing a list of export quotas of which it has been informed. Quotas generally relate to a calendar year (1 January to 31 December); however, since 2008 sturgeon quotas have related to a quota year (1 March to last day of February).

In 2012, quotas were published on the CITES website (www.cites.org) on 29/02/2012. There were no quota updates during production of this report (report finalised on 4th May 2012).

This report analyses the 2012 CITES export quotas to identify any changes in quotas between 2011 and 2012 and then to review how these changes might affect the status of the species or its area of distribution. First the report outlines:

a) Quotas that were newly established in 2012 (i.e. 2012 quotas for particular species/country/term/source combinations which have not previously been subject to a quota, or have not been subject to a quota for at least the last 5 years); b) Quotas that increased or decreased in 2012 compared with 2011 quotas (or compared with 2010 quotas if no quota was published in 2011).

2. Species with new, increased or decreased quotas in 2012

2.1. Acipenseriformes As of 4th May 2012, no sturgeon quotas have been published. Therefore, as per the recommendations detailed in Resolution Conf. 12.7 (Rev. CoP14), if no quotas have been communicated to the CITES Secretariat by 31st December of the previous year, “the relevant range States have a zero quota until such time as they communicate their quotas in writing to the Secretariat and the Secretariat in turn informs the Parties.”

Given the zero quotas, it is suggested that no species reviews are needed at present. However, should any sturgeon quotas be published, further analysis may be necessary.

2.2. Other species (non Acipenseriformes) An overview of newly established, increased and decreased quotas in 2012 is presented in Tables 1, 2 and 3, respectively. On the basis of this analysis, species have been identified where the new or increased quotas in 2012 indicate that further discussion might be necessary to determine whether the trade may have a harmful effect on the conservation status of the species or on the extent of the territory occupied by the relevant population of the species.

Species that potentially warrant review include: o Guyana published new quotas of 100 live individuals for Clelia clelia and Cyclagras gigas. Neither of these snake species has been assessed by the IUCN.

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o Eryx miliaris / Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan published a new quota for 50 live individuals. This snake species has not been assessed by the IUCN. o Kinixys erosa / Democratic Republic of the Congo: The DRC increased its quota for this Data Deficient species six-fold from 500 live individuals in 2011 to 3000 in 2012. A final list of species for review will be agreed, pending comments from the SRG.

2.2.1. Previously reviewed species of potential concern

The following species/country combinations may be of potential concern; however, they have been reviewed recently and therefore a review may not be necessary at this stage:

o Swietenia macrophylla / Honduras: Honduras published a quota for this Vulnerable species for the first time in 2012, of 4066.70 m3. This species was selected for CITES Review of Significant Trade at the 17th meeting of the Plants Committee, and Honduras was categorised as ‘Possible Concern’ (PC19 Summary Record) following concerns over the sustainability of trade (including illegal trade) (PC19 Doc. 12.3). For countries of ‘Possible Concern’, Management Authorities were required within six months to inform the Secretariat of the methodology currently being used for making non-detriment assessments and to establish a conservative harvest and export quota. The Commission may wish to contact Honduras to request this information on non-detriment findings. o Phelsuma lineata / Madagascar: Madagascar increased its export quota for this Least Concern species from 2000 in 2011 to 3000 in 2012. P. lineata was reviewed in a SRG 38 document, following which a positive opinion was formed on 26/09/2006. The species was later reviewed in a SRG 45 document, where it was reported to be widespread, common and to be abundant in degraded forests and cultivated and urbanised areas. o Hirudo verbana / Turkey: Turkey increased its export quota for H. verbana from 3000 kg in 2011 to 4000 kg in 2012. However, Turkey previously had quotas of 6000 kg of H. medicinalis 2005-2010 (from which H. verbana split following CoP15). The medicinal leech (H. medicinalis sensu lato) in Turkey was reviewed in a SRG 51 document, following which a positive opinion was formed on 16/02/2010 (originally for H. medicinalis) and confirmed for H. verbana on 03/12/2010. The positive opinions for both H. verbana and H. medicinalis were confirmed on 11/03/2011, based on Turkey’s response to a query regarding the 2011 export quotas. 2.2.2. Other quotas of note

Genus level quotas A number of quotas were established at the genus rather than the species level. Of particular note, Fiji published a new quota of 4750 live or dead Trachyphyllia spp. Fiji previously published quotas for T. geoffroyi, including quotas for 4750 pieces, live or dead, 2008-2011. Trachyphyllia is not a coral taxa where identification to genus level is acceptable according to Notification 2010/014. In addition, Veron1 considers T. geoffroyi to be the only species in the genus Trachyphyllia and this species is currently subject to a 4.6(b) import suspension for wild specimens.

In 2012, Malaysia published a quota for 5000 kg of wood chips, wood blocks and essential oil of Aquilaria spp. from Sarawak, whereas 2009-2011 quotas of the same volume were issued for Aquilaria malaccensis from Sarawak. A. malaccensis was reviewed for SRG 41, PC14 Doc. 9.2.2. (Review of Significant Trade) and the Mexico Non-Detriment Findings Workshop. However, it is not clear whether the new genus-level quota indicates Malaysia’s intention to export Aquilaria species other than A. malaccensis.

Quotas for artificially propagated or captive born/bred specimens

1 Veron, J. 2000. Corals of the World. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Queensland. 3

Whilst the SRG no longer makes country-wide opinions for artificially propagated, captive-born or captive-bred specimens, it is noteworthy that the following quotas have increased by 20 per cent or more: captive-born Chamaeleo dilepis, Chamaeleo rudis, Kinixys belliana and Kinixys fischeri from United Republic of Tanzania (Table 2).

In addition, a quota for live captive-bred Crocodylus siamensis (38 000) was published by Viet Nam for the first time in 2012. This Annex A species is Critically Endangered, that Viet Nam is a range State and no information on the captive breeding of the species in Viet Nam has been shared through the Captive Breeding Database.

New or increased quotas for species subject to import restrictions The only newly-established quotas in 2012 for species/country combinations for which the EU has a current import suspension consisted of 13 species from Madagascar for which zero quotas were published: Furcifer antimena, F. minor, Phelsuma antanosy, P. barbouri, P. berghofi, P. flavigularis, P. hielscheri, P. klemmeri, P. malamakibo, P. masohoala, P. pronki, P. seippi and P. serraticauda. No newly-established quotas have a current negative opinion.

Several species/country combinations with increased quotas in 2012 are subject to current EU import suspensions: Uroplatus fimbriatus/Madagascar (2012 quota for 487 live individuals); Uroplatus lineatus/Madagascar (2012 quota for 227 live individuals); Hydrictis maculicollis/United Republic of Tanzania (2012 quota for 160 live, wild-taken individuals) and Cervus elaphus bactrianus/Uzbekistan (2012 quota for 3 trophies). In addition, the following increased quotas in 2012 for F1 specimens have current EU import suspensions for wild specimens: Chamaeleo deremensis and C. fuelleborni from the United Republic of Tanzania (these species were reviewed in a SRG 53 document). No increased quotas are for species/country combinations with a current negative opinion.

Quotas possibly issued in error: Python curtus / Malaysia: Malaysia published a new quota for 12 000 Python curtus from Sabah. However, according to the CITES standard nomenclatural reference (Keogh et al., 20012), P. curtus is restricted to Sumatra and its offshore islands (Indonesia). Confusion over this species’ distribution may have arisen because P. breitensteini, which occurs in Sabah, was formerly considered a subspecies of P. curtus. The CITES Secretariat have been informed of this issue and are in contact with Malaysia.

2 Keogh, J.S., Baker, D.G. & Shine, R. 2001. Heavily exploited but poorly known: systematics and biogeography of commercially harvested pythons (Python curtus group) in Southeast Asia – Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 73: 113-129. 4

Table 1. Species subject to newly established quotas in 2012. Country Species IUCN Quota notes 2012 Notes Red List Fiji Trachyphyllia spp. - live or dead 4750 Previous quotas for Trachyphyllia geoffroyi 2003-2011, for which there is a 4.6(b) import suspension (2008-2011). Guyana Clelia clelia - live 100 Previous quotas for 50 live 1997-2001. Cyclagras gigas - live 100 Epipedobates hahneli LC 500 Previous quotas (1997-2011) were (Ameerega published under the name Epipedobates hahneli) pictus (which does not occur in Guyana). Quotas for E. pictus 2001- 2011 were also for 500 individuals. Honduras Swietenia macrophylla VU wood 4066.70 m3 Madagascar Furcifer antimena VU 0 Furcifer minor EN 0 Phelsuma antanosy CR 0 Phelsuma barbouri LC 0 Phelsuma berghofi NT 0 Phelsuma cepediana LC 0 Phelsuma flavigularis EN 0 Phelsuma grandis LC live 103 Phelsuma madagascariensis (from which P. grandis split following CoP15) had quotas for 2000 live individuals 1999- 2011.) Phelsuma hielscheri VU 0 Phelsuma kely DD 0 Phelsuma klemmeri EN 0 Phelsuma kochi LC live 745 Phelsuma madagascariensis (from which P. grandis split following CoP15) had quotas for 2000 live individuals 1999- 2011.) 5

Country Species IUCN Quota notes 2012 Notes Red List Phelsuma malamakibo NT 0 Phelsuma masohoala CR 0 Phelsuma pronki CR 0 Phelsuma ravenala LC 0 Phelsuma seippi EN 0 Phelsuma serraticauda EN 0 Phelsuma vanheygeni EN 0 Uroplatus alluaudi NT 0 Also a zero quota for live individuals in 2006. Uroplatus finiavana - 0 Newly described in 2011. Uroplatus giganteus VU 0 Uroplatus malahelo EN 0 Uroplatus malama VU 0 Zero quotas 2005-2006 for live Malaysia Aquilaria spp. - wood chips, wood blocks and essential 5000 kg Previous quotas for 5000 kg Aquilaria oil - Sarawak malaccensis powder and wood chips from Sarawak 2009-2011. Gonystylus bancanus VU parts and derivatives - Sarawak 3178 m3 Previous quotas for 3178 m3 Gonystylus spp. from Sarawak 2008- 2011. Python curtus - all - Sabah 12000 Uzbekistan Eryx miliaris - live 50 Viet Nam Crocodylus siamensis CR live, captive-bred 38000

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Table 2. Species subject to increased quotas in 2012. Country Species IUCN Quota Notes 2010 2011 2012 Increase % Increase Notes3 Red List Democratic Kinixys erosa DD live 500 500 3000 2500 500 Republic of the Congo Ethiopia Chlorocebus aethiops LC trophies 6 6 Quotas for 50 trophies in 2002, 2004, 2006 & 2007.

Madagascar Phelsuma lineata LC live 2000 2000 3000 1000 50 Uroplatus fimbriatus LC live 312 312 487 175 56 Uroplatus lineatus LC live 63 63 227 164 260 Turkey Hirudo verbana - live or frozen, 60004 3000 4000 1000 33 wild-taken. United Aldabrachelys gigantea - F1 specimens 90 95 5 6 Republic of Chamaeleo bitaeniatus - F1 specimens 84 100 16 19 Tanzania Chamaeleo deremensis - F1 specimens 93 100 7 8 Chamaeleo dilepis LC F1 specimens 120 150 30 25 Chamaeleo ellioti - F1 specimens 20 30 10 50 Chamaeleo fuelleborni - F1 specimens 199 200 1 1 Chamaeleo goetzei - F1 specimens 38 45 7 18 Chamaeleo gracilis - F1 specimens 40 50 10 25 Chamaeleo jacksonii - F1 specimens 143 143 150 7 5 merumontanus Chamaeleo laterispinis VU F1 specimens 23 30 7 30 Chamaeleo melleri - F1 specimens 108 110 2 2 Chamaeleo rudis - F1 specimens 321 350 29 9

3 SRG opinions are for wild-sourced specimens unless stated otherwise. 4 2010 quota established for Hirudo medicinalis, from which H. verbana split following CITES CoP15. 7

Country Species IUCN Quota Notes 2010 2011 2012 Increase % Increase Notes3 Red List Chamaeleo tempeli - F1 specimens 114 120 6 5 Cordylus beraduccii - F1 specimens 16 20 4 25 Cordylus - F1 specimens 99 99 110 11 11 tropidosternum Cordylus ukingensis - F1 specimens 23 25 2 9 Crocodylus niloticus LR/lc live, captive-bred 25 25 30 5 20 Gongylophis colubrinus - live, F1 specimens 48 48 50 2 4 Previous quotas for (source C) <25 cm in length. Hydrictis maculicollis - live, wild-taken 100 100 160 60 60 Kinixys belliana - F1 specimens 320 320 350 30 9 (source C) Kinyongia fischeri - F1 specimens 160 160 180 20 13 Kinyongia oxyrhina - F1 specimens 28 28 35 7 25 (source C) Kinyongia tenuis - F1 specimens 22 22 30 8 36 (source C) Kinyongia uthmoelleri - F1 specimens 24 24 25 1 4 (source C) Phelsuma dubia LC F1 specimens 59 59 60 1 2 (P. comorensis) (source C) Python sebae - F1 specimens 20 25 5 25 Stigmochelys pardalis - only live; F1 5670 5990 6000 10 0 Previous quotas for specimens (source C) carapace length of 8 cm or less Varanus albigularis - F1 specimens 20 20 30 10 50 (source C) Varanus niloticus - F1 specimens 20 25 5 25 Uzbekistan Cervus elaphus LC trophies: horn 2 3 1 50 bactrianus (C. elaphus) and skull, skin

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Country Species IUCN Quota Notes 2010 2011 2012 Increase % Increase Notes3 Red List Falco columbarius LC live 5 5 20 15 300 Milvus migrans LC live 10 20 10 100

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Table 3. Species subject to decreased quotas in 2012. Country Species IUCN Quota Notes 2010 2011 2012 Decrease % Decrease Notes Red List Ethiopia Hippopotamus VU worked ivory 35 kg 20 kg 15 43 amphibius raw ivory 40 kg 20 kg 20 50 Panthera pardus NT trophies [Note: see 500 500 10 490 98 Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. CoP 14)] Madagascar Phelsuma laticauda LC live 2000 2000 622 1378 69 Phelsuma LC live 2000 2000 897 1103 55 Following taxonomic madagascariensis changes adopted at CoP15, P. madagascariensis was split into three separate species. Phelsuma quadriocellata LC live 2000 2000 1833 167 8 Uroplatus ebenaui VU live 250 250 83 167 67 Uroplatus guentheri EN 125 125 0 120 100 Uroplatus henkeli VU live 125 125 35 90 72 Uroplatus sikorae LC live 2000 2000 867 1133 57 Psittacula longicauda NT live - Peninsular 1000 1000 700 300 30 Malaysia United Chamaeleo werneri - F1 specimens 149 50 99 66 Republic of Tanzania Kinyongia tavetana - F1 specimens 106 95 11 10 Uzbekistan Eryx tataricus - live 300 600 550 50 8

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