IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

For each CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP) meeting, IUCN and TRAFFIC undertake an independent and science-based review of the proposals Parties submit to amend the CITES Appendices. IUCN and TRAFFIC review the information provided in the proposals against the CITES biological and trade criteria which determine placement on Appendix I, II or III (see below). The IUCN SSC Specialist Groups provide invaluable input into this review process.

CITES Appendix I includes all species threatened with extinction which are or may be affected by trade and for which trade is only authorized in exceptional circumstances. Appendix II mainly includes species that may become threatened with extinction unless trade is subject to strict regulations. Appendix III covers species that are identified by certain Parties as in need for stricter trade regulations, primarily on a national level.

IUCN Species Programme collects information on the status and biology of species from its Species Survival Commission (SSC) network and broader scientific community. TRAFFIC focuses on the analysis of trade data, using components of the proposals in addition to drawing on its own information sources and expert networks. The result document brings together a broad range of expertise, which Parties to CITES (countries) use to make decisions on placement of species on or off the CITES Appendices.

CITES CoP16
In preparation for the CITES CoP16 meeting that will take place March 3 – 14, 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand, IUCN and TRAFFIC have released the results of the Analyses of the Proposals to Amend the Appendices. It provides a science-based and independent assessment of the information provided in the proposals submitted by CITES Parties to amend the Convention’s Appendices for species affected by trade. Read the Analyses

CITES CoP15
In preparation for the CITES CoP15 meeting that took place March 13 – 25, 2010 in Doha, Qatar, IUCN and TRAFFIC released the results of the Analyses of the Proposals to Amend the Appendices.  Read the Analyses

CITES CoP14
The Analyses of Proposals to Amend the CITES Appendices, was produced for the 14th meeting of the CoP (The Hague, The Netherlands 2007), in collaboration with TRAFFIC and with significant contributions from the IUCN Specialist Groups. It provides an independent assessment of the information provided in the proposals submitted by CITES Parties to amend the Convention’s Appendices where species affected by trade are listed. Read the Analyses.

Use and trade of wildlife is a fact of life for human society around the globe. Article IV of the CITES Convention requires that exporting countries ensure that trade in Appendix II species is done at levels that are not detrimental either to species survival, or to the role they play within ecosystems (known as a "non-detriment finding"). IUCN convened two workshops to develop some pragmatic assistance for Scientific Authorities in determining non-detriment findings for species and this advice was published and has contributed to the development of a non-detriment finding checklist. Various initiatives are currently underway with SSC Specialist Groups and TRAFFIC to assist CITES Scientific Authorities in making non-detriment findings for specific taxa. This work is progressing through the work of the Parties and CITES meetings as well - IUCN continues to contribute to this work. Download IUCN's publication on making NDFs.

The IUCN/SSC Species Trade and Use Unit has written and regularly updated CITES: A Conservation Tool, a guide to amending the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. This publication guides the CITES Parties in the process of submitting, presenting, and adopting proposals to amend the CITES Appendices. It guides readers through the Convention's articles and resolutions. The ninth edition is only available in pdf version, in English. The seventh edition of the guide is still available in Français and Español (pdf). Download the free Acrobat Reader to view these files.