Certain High-Value Timber Etc. Added to CITES Appendix III
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora has issued a press release announcing that the governments of Bolivia, the Russian Federation and Seychelles have requested that CITES list seven new species in CITES Appendix III, including high value timber species.
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Appendix III Listing Requires Add’l Documentation for Cross-Border Shipments
The listing of three species of cedar, the Korean pine, the ‘coco de mer’ and three species of butterflies in CITES Appendix III means that all cross-border shipments now have to be authorized by the issuance of a document certifying the origin of the products covered by the listing.
Coco de Mer, Three Species of Cedar, One of Pine, Etc. Listed
The following species have been listed:
Cedar. Bolivia requested the inclusion in CITES of three species of cedar tree (Cedrela fissilis, Cedrela lilloi and Cedrela odorata). Colombia, Guatemala and Peru have requested similar controls for their own populations of one cedar species in the past (Cedrela odorata), but the measure will now apply to the species throughout its range which covers much of South and Central America.
Korean pine. The Russian Federation has requested the help of CITES Parties to control the trade in the Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis).
Coco de mer. At the same time, Seychelles has requested that the coco de mer (Lodoicea maldivica,a coconut palm) be included in CITES Appendix III.
Butterflies. Bolivia has also asked for CITES help to protect three species of butterfly.
Enforcement of Lacey Act Declaration Have Focused on Wood and its Products
The 2008 Lacey Act Amendments prohibit the import, export, transport, selling, receiving, etc. of any plant or plant product (including illegally logged timber and timber products) taken or traded in violation of U.S. state law and most foreign laws.
Enforcement of the Lacey Declaration requirements (Phases II, III, and IV) have focused on HTS Chapter 44 (wood and articles of wood). In addition, Justice Department officials have stated that illegally logged timber, and the wood products made from such timber, would be their top enforcement focus. This focus would be expected to include any CITES-listed timber species.
1Appendix III includes all species which any Party to the Convention identifies as being subject to regulation within its jurisdiction for the purposes of preventing or restricting exploitation, and as needing the co-operation of other Parties in the control of trade. Inclusion on Appendix III is undertaken at the specific request of the State of origin and does not require a decision of the Conference of the Parties.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 10/12/10 news, 10100835, for recent BP summary of APHIS’ manual for CITES I-II-III protected timber species.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 10/08/08 news, 08100805, for BP summary of APHIS’ implementation plan which stated that the 2008 Lacey Act amendments, including the declaration requirements, apply to plants listed in a CITES appendix.)