CITES and Succulents
An introduction to succulent plants covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
What This Presentation Will Cover
• Introduction to succulent plants
• Succulent plants on CITES
• Implementing CITES for succulent plants
Introduction to Succulent Plants
What Are Succulent Plants?
Why Protect Succulent Plants?
What Groups Are Controlled?
Succulent Plants on CITES
Euphorbia Characteristics - Latex
Euphorbia Characteristics - Spines and Flowers
• Spines
– Needle like or
– Complex
– In pairs
• Flowers
– Inconspicuous
– Showy bracts
Global Distribution of Succulent Euphorbia
No. Euphorbia taxa
250
200
50
1
Source: Carter & Eggli (1997)
150
100
0
Euphorbia Trade
Major Exporter
Major Importer
Source: UNEP-WCMC CITES trade data 1997-2001
Aloe or Agave?
Aloe Agave
Aloe
Aloe Agave Agave
Global Distribution of Aloe
No. Aloetaxa
150
100
50
10
Aloe Trade
Major Exporter
Major Importer
Source: UNEP-WCMC CITES trade data 1997-2001
Pachypodium Characteristics
Global Distribution of Pachypodium
No. Pachypodium
taxa
30
15
10
Pachypodium Trade
Major Exporter
Major Importer
Source: UNEP-WCMC CITES trade data 1997-2001
Other Succulent Taxa Listed on CITES
Agave Alluaudia Fouquieria
Other Succulent Taxa Listed on CITES
Succulent Plants on CITES: Summary
Implementing CITES for Succulent Plants
Enforcement - Checks
• Check
– Documents
– Country of origin
– Packaging
– Shipments
– Trade routes
Wild or Artificially Propagated? - Key Characteristics
General Appearance
Spines
Roots
Soil
Wild Artificially propagated• Irregular shape & size
• Wounds ?insect damage
• “Corky” stems
• Irregular & broken
• Thicker
• Irregular
• Dead & broken
• Cut back when removed from the wild
• Native soils and associated plants
• Uniform
• Healthy plant parts
• Uniform & intact
• Thinner & weaker
• In shape of pot
• Roots cut back but healthy
• Several main roots
• One main taproot• Usually clean of soil
• Horticultural soil present (e.g. peat, sand, perlite, rockwool)
Wild or Artificially Propagated?
AP - shipment
AP - growth form
Wild - shipment Wild - growth form
Wild or Artificially Propagated?
AP - leaves
AP - spines Wild - rootsWild - spinesWild - leaves
AP - roots
Additional Slides
The CITES Definition of ‘Artificially Propagated’
Detecting Detrimental Trade?The Burden on Exporting Countries
• Article IV of the convention states that an export permit shall only be granted when, inter alia,’
• A Scientific Authority of the state of export has advised that such export will not be detrimental to the survival of that species’
Detrimental Trade - How and Why?
• Insufficient resources to implement Article IV of CITES
• Poor implementation of export bans on wild plants
• Smuggling
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