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?
Global Trade
What Groups Are Controlled?
Cacti
Succulent Plants on
CITES
Succulent Euphorbia
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
150
100
50
1
0
Source: Carter & Eggli (1997)
Euphorbia Trade
Major
Importer
Major
Exporter
Source: UNEP-WCMC CITES trade data 1997-2001
Aloe
Aloe Characteristics
Aloe or Agave?
Agave
Aloe
Agave
Aloe
Agave
Aloe
Global Distribution of Aloe
No. Aloe
taxa
150
100
50
1
0
Aloe Trade
Major
Importer
Major
Exporter
Source: UNEP-WCMC CITES trade data 1997-2001
Pachypodium
Pachypodium Characteristics
Global Distribution of Pachypodium
No.
Pachypodium
taxa
30
15
1
0
Pachypodium Trade
Major
Importer
Major
Exporter
Source: UNEP-WCMC CITES trade data 1997-2001
Other Succulent Taxa Listed on CITES
Agave
Alluaudia
Fouquieria
Other Succulent Taxa Listed on CITES
Medicinals
Succulent Plants on CITES: Summary
Implementing CITES
for Succulent Plants
Enforcement
Enforcement - Checks
• Check
– Documents
– Country of origin
– Packaging
– Shipments
– Trade routes
Wild or Artificially Propagated? Key Characteristics
Wild
• Irregular shape & size
General
• Wounds ?insect damage
Appearance
Artificially propagated
• Uniform
• Healthy plant parts
• “Corky” stems
Spines
Roots
Soil
• Irregular & broken
• Uniform & intact
• Thicker
• Thinner & weaker
• Irregular
• In shape of pot
• Dead & broken
• Roots cut back but healthy
• Cut back when removed from the
wild
• Several main roots
• Native soils and associated
plants
• One main taproot
• Usually clean of soil
• Horticultural soil present (e.g.
peat, sand, perlite, rockwool)
Wild or Artificially Propagated?
AP - shipment
Wild - shipment
Wild - growth form
AP - growth form
Wild or Artificially Propagated?
Wild - leaves
AP - leaves
Wild - spines
AP - spines
Wild - roots
AP - roots
Implementation: Summary
Additional Slides
Exemptions
Nursery Registration
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
Tillandsia – Air Plants