Progress on the Implementation of CITES Tree Species and Policy Recommendations for China’s Compliance

doi:10.17520/biods.2025356

Biodiv Sci

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Progress on the Implementation of CITES Tree Species and Policy Recommendations for China’s Compliance

Tuo He^1,2,3,4, Yang Lu^1,2,3, Lichao Jiao^1,2,3, Yan Zeng^5,6, Liangchen Yuan^7,8, Yafang Yin^1,2,3,6*

1 Research Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China

2 CITES Wildlife Forensic Testing Laboratory, Beijing 100091, China

3 Wood Collection of Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China

4 Wildlife Conservation Monitoring Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100714, China

5 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

6 Endangered Species Scientific Commission, P. R. China, Beijing 100101, China

7 Department of Wildlife Conservation, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100714, China

8 CITES Management Authority, P. R. China, Beijing 100714, China

Received:2025-09-03 Revised:2025-11-10 Accepted:2025-11-26
Contact: Yafang Yin
Supported by:
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32201496)

Abstract

Abstract:

Background: Trees play an irreplaceable ecological, economic, and cultural role in global terrestrial ecosystems, yet their survival faces multiple threats, including deforestation, habitat destruction, and climate change, with illegal and unsustainable international trade being one of the major drivers.

Review Results: Since its entry into force in 1975, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has expanded the number of regulated tree species from 18 to around 690. Through Appendix amendments, annotation management, and the implementation of resolutions and decisions, CITES has strengthened the regulation of international trade in tree species, while the CITES Tree Species Programme (CTSP) has supported Parties in enhancing their capacity for management, enforcement, and monitoring. This paper systematically reviews the listing history of tree species in the CITES Appendices and changes in related annotations, outlines effective resolutions and decisions concerning trees adopted after CoP19, and evaluates the outcomes of the CTSP in species conservation, capacity building, trade regulation, and knowledge sharing. It also identifies limitations in terms of regional distribution, funding allocation, insufficient baseline data, and inadequate evaluation mechanisms. The study finds that current challenges to CITES implementation for tree species include insufficient scientific basis for Appendix amendments, weak source-country regulation, and technical bottlenecks in species identification and origin tracing.

Recommendations: Given China’s role as one of the world’s largest timber importers, this paper proposes measures to strengthen import and export supervision, enhance implementation capacity, and deepen international cooperation, aiming to promote the effective conservation and sustainable use of tree species both in China and globally. The findings provide a reference for optimizing future CITES management strategies for tree species, improving implementation capacity, and advancing global forest biodiversity conservation.

Key words: CITES, tree species, international trade regulation, implementation capacity building, biodiversity conservation

Tuo He, Yang Lu, Lichao Jiao, Yan Zeng, Liangchen Yuan, Yafang Yin. Progress on the Implementation of CITES Tree Species and Policy Recommendations for China’s Compliance[J]. Biodiv Sci, DOI: 10.17520/biods.2025356.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2025356

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Progress on the Implementation of CITES Tree Species and Policy Recommendations for China’s Compliance

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