Key message:
The Scientific Committee for Food and Environment has assessed the knowledge base for proposed changes to the regulation of trade in several species of wildlife and plants.
The proposed changes will be considered at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Panama City from November 14 to 25, 2022.
The assessment was commissioned by the Norwegian Environment Agency and forms part of the scientific basis for Norway's contribution to the conference.
CITES´ lists
Prior to the conferences, member countries of CITES may propose changes to the regulation of species. The species protected by CITES are divided into three lists with varying degrees of trade restrictions.
List I includes species that are so endangered that all commercial trade is prohibited. List II includes species for which international trade must be monitored to ensure the survival of the species. List III includes species with local populations protected in at least one country of distribution, and where this country has requested help from other CITES member countries to control trade.
Proposed changes may include, for example, moving a species from List I to List II, or adding species that have not previously been part of the CITES system to a list.
52 proposals
A total of 52 list proposals have been submitted for the conference in Panama City. The proposals include species of both fauna and flora, from many different countries and habitats.
Among the proposals are several species of sharks, rays, and turtles, which are among the most endangered groups of vertebrates. Species of tropical timber are also included in the proposed regulatory changes. This also applies to hippopotamus, African elephant, rhinoceros, and sea cucumber.
Methods
The committee has reviewed available information on the biology, population size and structure, as well as population trends, distribution status, conservation needs and measures, and the status of legal and illegal trade of the species. Based on this information, the committee has assessed whether can affect the survival of species.
The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment