Progress on the implementation of CITES tree species and policy recommendations for China’s compliance

doi:10.17520/biods.2025356

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 689. 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, 2025, 33(11): 25356.

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

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2025/V33/I11/25356

Figures/Tables 1

References 14

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缔约方大会 CoP	年份 Year	列入CITES附录树木物种 Tree species listed in CITES Appendices
缔约方大会 CoP	年份 Year	附录I Appendix I	附录II Appendix II	附录III Appendix III	总数 Total
CoP15	2010	7	95	13	115
CoP16	2013	7	231	11	249
CoP17	2016	7	~485	10	~502
CoP18	2019	7	~ 503	7	~517
CoP19	2022	7	~676	6	~689

缔约方大会 CoP	年份 Year	列入CITES附录树木物种 Tree species listed in CITES Appendices
缔约方大会 CoP	年份 Year	附录I Appendix I	附录II Appendix II	附录III Appendix III	总数 Total
CoP15	2010	7	95	13	115
CoP16	2013	7	231	11	249
CoP17	2016	7	~485	10	~502
CoP18	2019	7	~ 503	7	~517
CoP19	2022	7	~676	6	~689

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