CITES Signs airport and harbors

* Also available:  CITES brochures in EnglishDutchPapiamentu and Spanish

* Also avaiable: CITES posters

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

CITES is an international agreement between governments (currently 183 Parties) to ensure that international trade of wild fauna and flora is not threatening their survival. At the moment more than 37.000 species of animals and plants are protected under CITES. The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals and plants to a vast array of wildlife products derived from them, including  food products, exotic leather goods, wooden sculptures, jewelry, trinkets and instruments and even types of local medicines. 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

In order to regulate international trade, CITES uses three lists of species that are found as appendices to the treaty. The first two appendices are the most important to the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius):

 Appendix I:  Species threatened with extinction to which a trade ban applies. This includes all marine turtle species and some whale and bird species, such as the Bonairian Yellow- shouldered Amazon (Lora).

Appendix II: includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. Trade is only allowed with valid CITES permits.

Appendix III: contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. A (re)export permit is required from the country in question or a certificate of origin from other states.

Traveling with CITES listed species (including parts and products) without a CITES permit is a violation of the law and may lead to a fine or prosecution. The plant, animal or item/ product in question will be confiscated.

In addition to the CITES regulations, local rules and measures may apply!

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