CITES
| Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora | |
|---|---|
| Signed | 3 March 1973 |
| Location | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Effective | 1 July 1975 |
| Condition | 10 ratifications |
| Parties | 185 |
| Depositary | Government of the Swiss Confederation |
| Language | |
| Full text | |
| Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora at Wikisource | |
CITES (shorter acronym for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade. It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The convention was opened for signature in 1973 and CITES entered into force on 1 July 1975.
Its aim is to ensure that international trade (import/export) in specimens of animals and plants included under CITES does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild. This is achieved via a system of permits and certificates. CITES affords varying degrees of protection to more than 40,900 species.
As of December 2024, the Secretary-General of CITES is Ivonne Higuero.