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IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group

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CITES

S. Kennerknecht

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES is an agreement between governments aiming to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not negatively impact their survival.

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A number of cat species and subspecies are listed in Appendix I of CITES (see Cats in CITES), all other wild cat species are listed in Appendix II.  

Scientific information about conservation status and biology of species is key to CITES’ objectives to make sure that international trade in wild animals and plants is legal, sustainable and traceable, and that it does not threaten the species’ survival in the wild. The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) therefore plays an important role in CITES decision-making and listing of species on CITES Appendices. SSC Specialist Groups can nominate members to assist in the reviewing of proposals to amend current CITES Appendices. The objectives of the SSC Programme are to:

  • identify situations where trade in wild species appears unsustainable or adversely affects the status of non-target species;

  • focus on gaps in knowledge of the biology and status of species in trade;

  • develop and promote those actions and/or mechanisms necessary to ensure the conservation of species adversely affected by trade;

  • ensure that the SSC's expertise is used to influence the decisions of CITES and other relevant agreements;

  • provide scientific support and capacity building to the Parties to CITES (and other relevant international agreements) in implementing conventions at national and regional levels;

  • increase understanding of CITES and other relevant agreements within the SSC network.

 

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How it works

CITES is a treaty among governments, which are called "Parties", now numbering 184. It is concerned only with international trade and has no power regarding domestic matters. If a country wants to allow or ban hunting, then that is the affair of the respective government. CITES only comes into the picture if a species, alive or in parts, is to be transported across an international trade. CITES is comprised of the different structures outlined below.

  • The CITES Secretariat is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme and is located in Geneva. Each Party has a CITES Management Authority and a Scientific Authority with which the CITES secretariat communicates.

  • The CoP is formed by the member States and is the supreme decision-making body of the convention. The CoP meets every two to three years to review the implementation of CITES. These meetings provide the occasion for the Parties to:

    • review the conservation status of the species included in the Appendices and its progress;

    • consider proposals to change the species lists in Appendices I, II and III;

    • consider discussion documents and reports from the Parties, the permanent committees, the Secretariat and working groups;

    • recommend measures for effectiveness improvement of the Convention; and

    • make provisions necessary to allow the Secretariat to function effectively.

    Meetings of the CoP are also attended by observers such as representatives of States that are not party to CITES, or of United Nations agencies. The observers have no vote. NGOs too can be observers at the CoPs, and have opportunities to express their views, which may influence the votes, although they are not allowed to vote.

  • The role of the Animal Committee is to:

    • provide scientific advice and guidance to the CoP, other committees, working groups and the Secretariat;

    • deal with nomenclatural issues;

    • conduct periodic species reviews to ensure appropriate CITES classification;

    • advise in situations of unsustainable species trade and to recommend remedial action and

    • draft resolutions on animal matters for consideration by the CoP.

    Members of the Animals Committee are individuals from the six major geographical regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Oceania) and one specialist on nomenclature. The committee meets twice between the CoP meetings and reports to the CoP if requested, providing advice to the Standing Committee.

  • The Standing Committee members are Parties that represent each of the major geographical regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Oceania). It includes a representative from the Depositary Government (Switzerland), one of the Party that hosted the previous CoP meeting and one of the Party that will host the next CoP meeting. At every regular meeting of the CoP, the Standing Committee membership is reviewed.

    The role of the Standing Committee is to:

    • provide policy guidance to the Secretariat concerning the implementation of CITES;

    • oversee the budget management;

    • coordinate and oversees the work of other committees and working groups;

    • fulfill tasks given by the CoP;

    • draft resolutions for consideration by the CoP.

Cats in the CITES Appendices

CITES has three appendices:

  • Appendix I lists species that are the most endangered among CITES-listed ones and includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.

  • Appendix II lists species not necessarily threatened with extinction now, but for which trade must be controlled in order to avoid unsustainable use.

  • Appendix III lists species at the request of a Party that protects the species or already regulates trade in the species and that needs the cooperation of other countries to prevent unsustainable or illegal exploitation.

Proposals for changes in the Appendices I, II and III, which set out the rules for trade in various species, can only be put forward by the Parties (the governments). They are voted on by the government delegations at the Conference of the Parties CoP, held every two years in various countries. Proposals have to be submitted 150 days before the CoP. Proposals can be seen on the CITES website, which provides all the information you are likely to want on the convention and its works.

Cat species are listed in Appendix I or Appendix II of CITES. Domesticated cat breeds are not subject to the provisions of the convention.

Cat species are listed in Appendix I or Appendix II of CITES. Domesticated cat breeds are not subject to the provisions of the convention.

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African Carnivore Initiative ACI

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The African Carnivore Initiative (ACI)  is a joint effort of CITES and CMS in collaboration with IUCN, especially the Specialist Groups of the Species Survival Commission, with input from Range States, IGOs and NGOs, other partners, and donors. The ACI is targeted at four African carnivore species, which play an essential role in maintaining the function of a healthy ecosystem: the lion (Panthera leo), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), leopard (Panthera pardus) and African wild dog (Lycaon pictus).

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The aim of the ACI is to act as a support platform to facilitate, promote and enhance more effective conservation of the four ACI species and their habitat across their range. It helps to synthesize conservation plans and actions undertaken by various organisations and to collectively address conservation efforts. In doing so, the ACI also avoids duplication of activities and associated costs, helping to generate resources, and pool funds and expertise. The ACI promotes information exchange between Range State Parties and, with implementing partners, allocates partners with funding and other resources. The work of the ACI is based on the effective compilation, generation and translation of scientific evidence into policies. The ACI is implemented through its Programme of Work (PoW), which has been developed from the resolutions and decisions adopted by the Conferences of the Parties of CMS and CITES, and relevant species-specific conservation strategies and guidelines.

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The Cat Specialist Group collaborates with the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in a number of ways:

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  • Scientific Contributions: Upon request, the group provides vital scientific information that forms key components of CITES policies and resolutions where they relate to cat species. This includes developing reports and specialist documents, such as:

    • Draft guidance for Non-Detriment Findings for African lions (Panthera leo) under CITES

    • Documents, reports and guidelines that help top shape The African Carnivores initiative (jointly managed by CITES and CMS), such as The Leopard Conservation Roadmap and Lion Conservation Guidelines.

  • Convening: The Cat Specialist Group organises workshops and events at international meetings, aiming to build capacity within expert groups and empower them to effectively implement conservation strategies. This includes the training of Red List assessors whose eventual tasks contribute to assessments that feed into CITES. In addition, the Cat SG also helps to verify information as requested by the Secretariat.

  • Advisory Role: Members attend CITES meetings, such as the annual Animals Committee and Steering Committee meetings, as part of the IUCN delegation, offering advice and expertise as needed, including participation in steering committee meetings and Conferences of the Parties (CoP) meetings.

  • Strategic Alignment: The group ensures that conservation guidelines, monitoring, and strategy programs for species align with the overarching aims and objectives of international conventions such as CITES and CMS and any shared programmes between them. This alignment is crucial for maximising the effectiveness of conservation efforts and enhancing the impact of the initiatives.

M. Pittet

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