ConservePlants

CITES Materials

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Currently, an increasing decline in global biodiversity is being observed. The main reason is the loss of habitats and modifications of natural systems. The second important factor of species decline is their over-exploitation. 

A special agreement on international trade in endangered species of wild animals and plants, called the Washington Convention or CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) regulates this practice. The text of the Convention was agreed upon in 1973 at a meeting in Washington, D.C. with the aim to protect certain animal and plant species against over-exploitation through international trade and maintain those species throughout their range at a level consistent with their role in the ecosystem. Currently, 182 countries and the European Union (EU) are Parties to the Convention worldwide.

The Convention encompassess three Annexes including approximately 30,000 species of plants and 5,800 species of animals. Their protection is slightly different according to the Annex they are in and is connected with their threat status. 

Annex I—includes over 1,000 species threatened with extinction. Trade is only permitted in exceptional cases. 

Annex II—there are about 35,000 species that are currently not endangered, but the trade must be controlled, as acquisition of specimens from the wild may lead to their extinction. 

Annex III—contains about 220 protected species in at least one country that has asked CITES Parties for help in controlling trade.

Since 1 June 1997, the trade of CITES specimens with and within the European Union is regulated by Council Regulation No. 338/97 on 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora. It translates CITES principles into the realities of the Union, and in many cases significantly tightens them.

This Regulation contains lists of species subjected to restrictions, listed in four annexes, marked with the letters A, B, C and D. As with CITES attachments, each of these annexes has slightly different restrictions. The Regulation introduces all CITES provisions, but also sets out a number of others. For example, it prohibits commercial exploitation (including sales) in the EU of all species of Annex A, and for species of Annex B with no proof of legal origin. The four annexes contain all species listed in Annexes I and II CITES as well as a number of other species protected in the Union.

(Text: Michael Kiehn & Martin Rose, from the publication CITES plants of Europe)

 

CITES Poster

Download the poster in large format here.

 

CITES Booklet

Browse through the book here.

Download the book in pdf format here

 

National flagship CITES plant species across Europe

Download the book in pdf format here.

 

CITES Sheets

 

CITES general info                        EU regulation CITES

   

 

Cyclamen persicum                    Cyclamen repandum

  

 

Cyclamen purpurascens              Cyclamen graecum

   

 

Cyclamen creticum                       Cyclamen coum    

   

Adonis vernalis

 

Galanthus nivalis                           Galanthus reginae-olgae             

   

 

Euphorbia piscatoria                      Euphorbia stygiana

   

 

Dactylorhiza maculata                   Dactylorhiza baumanniana

   

 

Dactylorhiza fuchsii                        Dactylorhiza sambucina

   

 

Dactylorhiza incarnata                    Dactylorhiza majalis

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Dactylorhiza viridis                       Dactylorhiza foliosa

   

 

Epipactis albensis                          Epipactis purpurata

   

 

Epipactis nordeniorum                  Nigritella nigra

   

 

Goodyera repens                             Goodyera macrophylla

   

 

Cypripedium calceolus                  Plathanthera chlorantha

   

 

Platanthera bifolia                         Platanthera pollostantha

   

 

Platanthera azorica                        Platanthera micrantha

   

 

Himantoglossum comperianum    Himantoglossum adriaticum

   

 

Orchis anatolica                            Orchis mascula

   

 

Orchis pallens                                Orchis scopulorum

   

 

Orchis militaris                               Orchis laxiflora

   

 

Orchis purpurea                             Epipogium aphyllum 

   

 

Neotinea tridentata                        Neottinea ustulata     

   

 

Neottia nidus-avis                          Ophrys apifera

   

 

Ophrys reinholdii                            Ophrys argolica

    

 

Ophrys cretica                               Ophrys aesculapii

   

 

Ophrys ferrum-equinum                 Ophrys bertolonii

   

 

Anacamptis sancta                      Anacamptis boryi

  

 

Anacamptis coriophora                Anacamptis papilionacea

   

 

Anacamptis pyramidalis                Spiranthes aestivalis

   

Spiranthes spiralis                        Gymnadenia frivaldii 

   

 

Gymnadenia conopsea                 Gymnadenia odoratissima

   

 

Cephalanthera epipactoides         Cephalanthera damasonium

   

 

Cephalanthera rubra                        Limodorum abortivum

   

 

Serapias vomeracea                     Serapias perez-chiscanoi    

   

 

 Sternbergia colchiciflora               Sternbergia lutea