Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora (CITES) (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Study Guide

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Background

• Developed to address the growing illegal trade in endangered species and wildlife products during the 20th century

  • Overexploitation through international trade had pushed many species toward extinction

  • High demand for ivory, exotic pets, skins, and traditional medicines was fueling unsustainable harvesting

• CITES was created as a global agreement to regulate and monitor this trade

  • Signed by multiple countries to create a cooperative legal framework

  • Aims to ensure that international trade does not threaten species survival

• Applies to both plants and animals, living or dead, and their parts or products

  • e.g. feathers, coral, wood, bones

• Over 180 countries are signatories; CITES regulates trade in more than 38,000 species through three Appendices:

  • Appendix I: Species threatened with extinction — trade is permitted only in exceptional circumstances

  • Appendix II: Species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but trade must be controlled

  • Appendix III: Species protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES parties for assistance in controlling trade

Key Dates

• 1973: Agreement drafted and signed

• 1975: CITES officially came into force

How CITES relates to the environment

• Prevents overexploitation of endangered species due to international trade

  • Protects species across biodiverse ecosystems, especially tropical rainforests and marine environments

  • Examples of protected species: elephants (ivory), rhinos (horn), tigers, pangolins, orchids, and hardwoods like mahogany

• Also connects to:

  • Invasive species prevention, as CITES indirectly reduces risk of invasive species from exotic pet trade

  • Cultural practices and ethical debates over the use of animal products in fashion, food, and medicine

Evaluation

• Successes:

  • Has helped bring several species back from the brink of extinction by controlling demand

  • International framework ensures cooperation across borders

  • Provides legal structure for confiscating and penalising illegal trade

• Challenges:

  • Enforcement varies by country — some nations have limited capacity or political will to implement protections

  • Black markets persist, particularly in high-value goods (e.g. rhino horn, pangolin scales)

  • Difficulty in tracking online trade and trafficking

  • Some species not yet listed despite being under threat, due to political or economic pressures