Analysis of CITES trade: Central America and the Dominican Republic Compiled by United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre February 2014 UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road Cambridge CB3 0DL United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1223 277314 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 277136 Email: [email protected] Website: www.unep-wcmc.org PREPARED FOR This report was made possible as a result of the generous financial support by the United States Department of Interior, in support of their capacity development programme. The United States Department of Interior is in turn grateful to the United States Department of State for their financial support. ABOUT UNEP-WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE The United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the specialist biodiversity assessment centre of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organisation. The Centre has been in operation for over 30 years, combining scientific research with practical policy advice. This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission, provided acknowledgement to the source is made. Reuse of any figures is subject to permission from the original rights holders. No use of this publication may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose without permission in writing from UNEP. Applications for permission, with a statement of purpose and extent of reproduction, should be sent to: the Director, DCPI, UNEP, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya, or to: UNEP-WCMC, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, UK. The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory organisations. The designations employed and the presentations of material do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP or contributory organisations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries or the designation of its name, frontiers or boundaries. The mention of a commercial entity or product in this publication does not imply endorsement by UNEP. CITATION UNEP-WCMC (2014). Analysis of CITES trade: Central America and the Dominican Republic. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge. © Copyright: 2014, UNEP and United States Department of Interior 2 Table of Contents Executive summary and recommendations ................................................................................... 3 I. Overview of CITES trade ............................................................................................................. 3 II. Species showing noteworthy trends ......................................................................................... 4 III. Shifts in trade over time ............................................................................................................ 4 IV. Inconsistencies in reporting ...................................................................................................... 5 V. Trade in species native to the Region by other countries ...................................................... 5 VI. Species valuation........................................................................................................................ 6 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................ 6 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 11 Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 12 Data included ................................................................................................................................. 12 Terminology .................................................................................................................................... 13 I. Overview of CITES trade ............................................................................................................. 14 Number of CITES-listed species .................................................................................................. 14 Exports from the Region ............................................................................................................... 15 Imports to the Region .................................................................................................................... 23 II. Species showing noteworthy trends ........................................................................................ 26 Species selected .............................................................................................................................. 26 III. Shifts in trade over time ............................................................................................................ 30 Shifts in source ................................................................................................................................ 30 Shifts in species ............................................................................................................................... 35 IV. Inconsistencies in reporting ..................................................................................................... 40 Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 40 Potential discrepancies of note ..................................................................................................... 41 Case studies: trade in live specimens .......................................................................................... 45 V. Trade in species native to the Region by other countries .................................................... 48 VI. Species valuation ........................................................................................................................ 52 Overall value of exports of CITES-listed animal species from the Region 2003-2012 .......... 52 Key commodities exported by the Region by value ................................................................. 55 1 Annex A: Conversion factors .......................................................................................................... 60 Annex B: CITES Purpose, Source and ISO codes ....................................................................... 61 Annex C: Process for selection of species showing noteworthy trends .................................. 63 Data included ................................................................................................................................. 63 Selection criteria ............................................................................................................................. 63 Annex D: Identification of shifts in trade .................................................................................... 66 Annex E: Higher taxa discrepancies in reporting........................................................................ 67 Annex F: Valuation methodology overview ................................................................................ 68 2 Executive summary and recommendations This report examines trade1 regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), as recorded by seven Parties (Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama; hereafter referred to as “the Region”) in their annual reports to CITES over the ten year period 2003- 2012. Trade with the Region as recorded by trading partners is also analysed throughout the report. The aim of this report is to provide key summary messages to inform future trade management in the Region, as a contribution to the capacity development programme supported by the U.S. Department of Interior. The report comprises six chapters: 1) an overview of trade in CITES-listed species; 2) an analysis of species showing noteworthy patterns of trade in wild specimens; 3) shifts in trade; 4) inconsistencies in reporting; 5) an overview of trade in species native to the Region that are traded at notable levels by other countries, and 6) a preliminary valuation of the Region’s trade in CITES-listed species. I. Overview of CITES trade A total of 29,123 direct export transactions were reported by the Region, of which over half related to artificially-propagated plants. The top commodities exported were live Cycas revoluta, live Iguana iguana and Strombus gigas meat. The Region is predominantly an exporter of CITES-listed species, with 29,123 direct export transactions reported over the period 2003-2012. Artificially-propagated plants accounted for over half of all direct export transactions; reptile commodities, the majority of which were captive-bred, also accounted for a large proportion of transactions. Top commodities exported by the Region include live Cycas revoluta, live Iguana iguana and Strombus gigas meat. The United States was the top importer of trade from the Region, reported as the importer for 48% of direct export transactions. A total of 5367 direct import transactions were reported by the Region, of which 53% related to artificially-propagated plants. Top commodities imported by the Region