CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is an agreement between governments, signed in 1973 and in force since 1975. Over 180 countries, called Parties, have joined. Its aim is to make sure that international trade in wild animals and plants, and in products made from them, does not threaten their survival.Trade includes live animals and plants and products such as ivory, skins, timber, traditional medicines and exotic pets. Around 40,000 species are protected, each listed in one of three Appendices:
• Appendix I: species threatened with extinction, such as tigers, gorillas and most rhinos. Commercial trade in wild specimens is banned; trade for research or conservation needs both import and export permits.
• Appendix II: species not necessarily threatened now but which could become so unless trade is controlled. Trade is allowed with an export permit showing it is legal and will not harm the species' survival.
• Appendix III: species protected in at least one country, which has asked other Parties to help control trade.The Parties meet every two to three years at a Conference of the Parties to add species or move them between appendices. Each country must pass its own laws to put CITES into practice, check permits at its borders, seize illegal goods and penalise traders.CITES works alongside other conservation measures. The IUCN Red List helps decide which species to list, and trade in animals bred in captivity is treated differently from trade in animals taken from the wild.
• Appendix I: species threatened with extinction, such as tigers, gorillas and most rhinos. Commercial trade in wild specimens is banned; trade for research or conservation needs both import and export permits.
• Appendix II: species not necessarily threatened now but which could become so unless trade is controlled. Trade is allowed with an export permit showing it is legal and will not harm the species' survival.
• Appendix III: species protected in at least one country, which has asked other Parties to help control trade.The Parties meet every two to three years at a Conference of the Parties to add species or move them between appendices. Each country must pass its own laws to put CITES into practice, check permits at its borders, seize illegal goods and penalise traders.CITES works alongside other conservation measures. The IUCN Red List helps decide which species to list, and trade in animals bred in captivity is treated differently from trade in animals taken from the wild.