The Criteria for Listing in CITES

• Main Author: Paul Shoul Paulshoulphotography. Com
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: polar bear
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.252.5131; http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/cites/polar-bear/files/polar-bear-IB.pdf

to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The bear family, Ursidae, is listed in Appendix II of CITES. This listing provides a modest level of protection for all bear species, requiring exporting countries to make a finding that the exports meet several criteria, including that the specimen was legally obtained and that the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild. Over time, seven bear taxa have been transferred to CITES Appendix I as their conservation status deteriorated and/or market demand increased. The Appendix I listing for these taxa provides a higher level of protection, barring trade in the species for commercial purposes and placing “dual controls ” over remaining trade (e.g., sport-hunted trophies may be imported as long as the exporting and importing countries issue permits supported by a non-detriment finding). Supported by Russia, the United States has proposed transferring the polar bear from Appendix II to Appendix I. As explained below, because the polar bear clearly meets the definition of an Appendix I species—it is “affected by trade ” and “threatened with extinction”—it should be transferred to Appendix I of CITES.