About
- History
- Leadership
- Board of Directors
RIL
- TFF Standard for
Reduced Impact
Logging
- Cost/Benefits Study
- South America
- Asia
- Africa
Mahogany
Contributors
- Corporate Sponsors
- Partners
Support TFF
- Contributor's App.
TFF Newsletters
TFF Species Bulletins
Press Releases/News/
Documents of Interest
CITES
Tomorrow's Forests
Industry Can Help
Consider This
Links
Contact
A high priority for TFF is to encourage the major international timber companies to support and
incorporate TFF Sustainable Forest Management/ Reduced-impact Logging principles and practices.
CITES AND THE TROPICAL TIMBER TRADE
Bulletin # 3
Revised 02/03
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) can play an important role in the conservation of tropical timber species. Negotiated in 1975, CITES serves as a management tool to control any species decline caused wholly or in part by international trade.
CITES uses a permit system to regulate trade in plants and animals. Species that become subject to regulation, according to specific Convention criteria, are included in appendices to the original Convention document. Each appendix specifies a different level of regulation and control. Important: being listed in CITES appendices does not necessarily prohibit all trade in a particular species.
Appendix 1 includes species that are threatened with extinction and that are or may be affected by trade. Thus, most international commercial trade in these species is prohibited. Some trade is permitted, but only for scientific or conservation purposes. In such cases, export and import permits are required by the respective governments.
Appendix 2 includes species that may become threatened if trade in them is not monitored and controlled. Appendix 2 does not bar international trade in listed species, but to trade in them, an exporter must secure a government-issued permit. It certifies that the specimens to be traded were legally obtained and that exporting them will not be detrimental to the survival of the species.
Appendix 3 includes species that individual countries choose to voluntarily regulate. An official certificate of origin (not a CITES permit) from the export country must be obtained to export these species. A CITES export permit is only required for countries that list a species in this appendix.
The 157 countries that observe the Convention meet biennially to add or remove species from the appendices. At the 1994 Conference of the Parties in Florida, the Parties established a timber working group to "address technical and practical problems associated with implementing the listing of timber species in the Appendices" (TRAFFIC Bulletin 15 (2): 68). Formation of this group was also intended to create a linkage between CITES, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and other interested parties.
As of February 2003, the following tree species are subject to CITES regulations:
| APPENDIX I | ||
| Scientific name | Common name | Native region |
| Abies guatemalensis | Guatemalan fir | Central America |
| Araucaria araucana | Monkey-puzzle tree | Argentina, Chile |
| Balmea stormiae | Ayuque | Central America, Mexico |
| Dalbergia nigra | Brazilian rosewood | Brazil |
| Fitzroya cupressoides | Alerce | Argentina, Chile |
| Pilgerodendron uviferm | Pilgerodendron | Argentina, Chile |
| Podocarpus parlatorei | Parlatore's Podocarp | Argentina, Bolivia, Peru |
| APPENDIX II | ||
| Scientific name | Common name | Native region |
| Aquilaria malaccensis | Agarwood | S. Asia - S.E. Asia |
| Caryocar costaricense | Ajo, garlic tree | Costa Rica, Panama |
| Guaiacum officinale | Commoner lignum vitae | South America, Caribbean |
| Guaiacum sanctum | Holywood lignum vitae | Central America |
| Oreomunnea pterocarpa | Caribbean walnut | Central America, Mexico |
| Pericopsis elata | Afrormosia | West Africa |
| Platymiscium pleiostachyum | Cristobal, Granadillo | Costa Rica, Panama |
| Prunus africana | African cherry | Tropical Africa, Madagascar |
| Pterocarpus santalinus 1 | Red sandalwood | India |
| Swietenia humilis | Mexican mahogany | Central America |
| Swietenia mahagoni | Caribbean mahogany | Caribbean |
| Swietenia macrophylla | Big-leaf mahogany | S. America (Amazon), Mexico 2 |
| Taxus wallichiana 2 | Himalayan yew | S. Asia |
| APPENDIX III | ||
| Scientific name | Common name | Country3 |
| Podocarpus neriifolius | Oleander-learfed podocarp | Nepal |
| Talauma hodgsonii | Hodgson's talauma | Nepal |
| Tetracentron sinense | Tetracentron | Nepal |
| Thymelaeaceae gonystylus spp. | Ramin | Indonesia |
| Cedrela odorata | Spanish Cedar | Peru, Colombia |
| 1 | Exemptions made for finished musical instruments, formulations, and chemical derivatives. |
| 2 | Effective November 2003. |
| 3 | Exemptions made for medicinal products. |
| 4 | Denotes country where species is voluntarily listed. Export of species must be accompanied by CITES permit only for country listed. Exports from other countries need only be accompanied by official certificate of origin. |
The Tropical Forest Foundation believes that by educating consumers and producers about the principles and benefits of conservation and proper forest management, it can make a mark on protecting tropical forests. For more information on the use of tropical wood products and sustainable forest management contact TFF at 2121 Eisenhower Ave. Suite 200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; Phone: 703-518-8834; Fax: 703-518-8974; email: tff@igc.apc.org.