Malaysia: A review of trade in CITES-listed species (Version edited for public release) A report to the European Commission Directorate General E - Environment ENV.E.2. – Environmental Agreements and Trade by the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre February, 2009 UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road PREPARED FOR Cambridge CB3 0DL The European Commission, Brussels, Belgium United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1223 277314 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 277136 DISCLAIMER Email: [email protected] The contents of this report do not necessarily Website: www.unep-wcmc.org reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory organisations. The designations ABOUT UNEP-WORLD CONSERVATION employed and the presentations do not imply MONITORING CENTRE the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP, the European Commission The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring or contributory organisations concerning the Centre (UNEP-WCMC), based in Cambridge, legal status of any country, territory, city or UK, is the specialist biodiversity information area or its authority, or concerning the and assessment centre of the United Nations delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Environment Programme (UNEP), run cooperatively with WCMC 2000, a UK charity. © Copyright: 2009, European Commission The Centre's mission is to evaluate and highlight the many values of biodiversity and put authoritative biodiversity knowledge at the centre of decision-making. Through the analysis and synthesis of global biodiversity knowledge the Centre provides authoritative, strategic and timely information for conventions, countries and organisations to use in the development and implementation of their policies and decisions. The UNEP-WCMC provides objective and scientifically rigorous procedures and services. These include ecosystem assessments, support for the implementation of environmental agreements, global and regional biodiversity information, research on threats and impacts, and the development of future scenarios. CITATION UNEP-WCMC. 2009. Malaysia: a review of trade in CITES-listed species. A Report to the European Commission. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 4 2. CITES in Malaysia .......................................................................................................................... 5 3. Scientific Review Group opinions ............................................................................................... 5 4. Trade in CITES-listed species from Malaysia ............................................................................. 6 5. Review of selected species .......................................................................................................... 12 SPECIES: Cynogale bennettii.................................................................................................. 12 SPECIES: Macaca arctoides .................................................................................................... 15 SPECIES: Polyplectron schleiermacheri ................................................................................ 18 SPECIES: Pitta nympha ........................................................................................................... 20 SPECIES: Pycnonotus zeylanicus .......................................................................................... 23 SPECIES: Python reticulatus .................................................................................................. 27 SPECIES: Indotestudo elongata ............................................................................................. 36 6. Species reported as direct exports to EU-27 since 1998 but not known from Malaysia or occurrence unconfirmed ................................................................................................................ 42 7. Globally threatened native species reported as direct exports to EU-27 from Malaysia since 1998 .......................................................................................................................................... 46 Annex I. Trade in CITES-listed species from Malaysia to EU-27, 1977-2007, as reported by both trading partners (all sources included). ............................................................................... 62 Annex II. Purpose and Source codes. ............................................................................................ 62 3 1. OVERVIEW Malaysia is a major exporter of CITES-listed species, many of which are exported to the European Union (EU). For this reason, Malaysia was identified as a country where a review of trade in species listed in EC Regulation 318/2008 would be useful to highlight any trade of concern. An analysis of trade levels from Malaysia to the EU-27 over the period 1977-2007 (with emphasis on 2000-2007) was undertaken in order to identify species that may warrant review. The analysis considered trade both to the EU and to other countries. Emphasis was on trade in wild and ranched specimens, but trade from other sources was also considered. In addition, species with long-standing export suspensions from Malaysia were also considered. This initial analysis found that: EU-imports of mammal species from Malaysia were low, the only notable exception being exports of live Macaca fascicularis, all of which took place before 1984. EU bird imports were reported until 2004, with the highest levels of trade being reported between 1997 and 2001. Between 2000 and 2004, only three species (Leiothrix lutea, Loriculus galgulus and Gracula religiosa) showed annual imports into the EU in excess of 300 individuals. These species were not considered to be globally threatened. EU-imports of birds are currently suspended for veterinary reasons. EU-imports of reptiles were significant, with five species –three pythons, together with Varanus salvator and Indotestudo elongata (EN)- imported into the EU in excess of 1,000 wild-sourced live individuals, skins, or both, between 2000 and 2007. The EU has never reported imports of CITES-listed amphibians and imports of fish have been low-volume, consisting primarily of captive-bred Scleropages formosus. EU-imports in invertebrates have been dominated by corals (mostly live) and birdwing butterflies (live and bodies). Between 2000 and 2007, 1,463 live corals and 2,219 live and bodies of birdwing butterflies were imported. The majority of plant species imported belonged to the Cycadaceae and Orchidaceae families and were primarily artificially propagated plants. The most notable exceptions were timber and timber products of Gonystylus spp., which have been imported in hundreds of m3 in recent years. Further details are provided in section 4. Following this initial analysis and discussion with the European Commission, seven species were selected for in-depth review (see Table 1.1.). Of those species, Python reticulatus was selected for review on the basis of high levels of trade; Indotestudo elongata was selected on the basis of its globally threatened status and relatively high trade levels; and the other five species on the basis of long-standing import suspensions. An overview of trade from Malaysia since CITES reporting began is provided in section 4, with a summary of all trade from Malaysia by taxon provided in Annex I. For the purpose of this report, imports into the EU are taken as imports into all 27 EU Member States throughout the entire study period, regardless of which year they acceded to the EU. 4 2. CITES IN MALAYSIA Malaysia acceded to CITES on the 20th of October 1977 and the Convention entered into force in that country on the 18th of January 1978. Malaysia has submitted annual reports every year. On 18th May 1984, a ban on the export of the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) and pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) from Malaysia was put in place by the Management Authority of Peninsular Malaysia (CITES Notification No. 294). This ban was initially specified to last for a period of five years. On 21st December 1992, the Management Authority of Peninsular Malaysia informed the CITES Secretariat that the export of Macaca fascicularis and Macaca nemestrina would remain banned for an indefinite period (CITES Notification No. 710). These bans are no longer valid. On 28th November 1986 a ban on the export of Scleractinia spp. from Sabah, Malaysia, was put in place by the Management Authority of Sabah (CITES Notification No. 416). This ban is no longer valid. 3. SCIENTIFIC REVIEW GROUP OPINIONS A number of opinions (positive and negative) as well as import suspensions have been formed by the SRG for Malaysia. Current opinions and suspensions are summarised in Table 3.1. Table 3.1. List of current opinions and import suspensions referring to Malaysia First put in Last Species Opinion Suspension place confirmed Notes Fauna Callagur borneoensis . b 18/02/2005 03/09/2008 All wild specimens Chitra chitra . b 03/09/2008 03/09/2008 All wild specimens Cuora amboinensis . b 01/03/2003 03/09/2008 All wild specimens Cynogale bennettii . b 22/12/1997 03/09/2008 All wild specimens Gracula religiosa (+) 26/03/2001 29/10/2001 Gracula religiosa (+) 05/09/2002 05/09/2002 Peninsular Malaysia Gyps bengalensis . b 18/02/2005 03/09/2008 All wild specimens Gyps indicus . b 18/02/2005 03/09/2008 All wild specimens Indotestudo elongata (+) 14/04/1998 14/04/1998