CITES as a Tool in Combating Illegal Logging

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) controls international trade in species listed in its three Appendices. While timber species have been listed under its three appendices since its inception in 1975, CITES has not been considered as widely used for controlling timber species in trade as it has been for other wildlife species. Even so, there are a number of provisions within CITES that apply equally to timber species, in terms of management, and throughout its value chain up to the points of export, import and, uniquely to CITES, re-export. However, the capacity of CITES to combat illegal logging in particular, and to manage native timber species for conservation and economic benefit in general, is not used to its full potential. CITES can fulfill this role if all parties work together and do not perceive CITES as merely a trade ban, or a Convention only about restricting timber trade, but more as a useful tool to complement management of this important natural resource.