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Not one species protected by CITES has become extinct as a result of trade since the Convention entered into force in 1975. THE CONVENTION CITES is one of the largest conservation agreements in existence. Participation is voluntary, and countries that have agreed to be bound by the Convention are known as Parties. Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties, it does not take the place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to make sure that CITES is implemented at the national level. The text of the Convention was opened for signature at a meeting of representatives of eighty countries in Washington, D.C. , United States , on 3 March 1973 , and entered into force on 1 July 1975 . As of November 2005, 169 Parties had entered the convention. CITES LISTS OF SPECIES CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. These require that all import, export, re-export and introduction of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. Each Party to the Convention must designate one or more Management Authorities in charge of administering the licensing system and one or more Scientific Authorities to advise them on the effects of trade on the status of the species. Roughly 5,000 species of animals and 28,000 species of plants are protected by CITES against over-exploitation through international trade. The Endangered Species are grouped in the Appendices according to how threatened they are by international trade. Appendix I - about 800 species These species are threatened with extinction. Trade in wild-caught specimens of these species is illegal (permitted only in exceptional licienced circumstances). Trade of captive bread animals or cultivated plants is allowed under licience. Appendix II - about 32,500 species These species are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. This should ensure that the wild populations are self-sustainable. Trade of captive bread animals or cultivated plants is allowed under licience. Appendix III - about 300 species These are species that are protected in at least one country, but not necessarliy threatened by extinction throughout the world. One country has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. LINKS TO THE OFFICIAL CITES WEBSITE
Member countries
The appendix 1, 2 and 3 lists
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