U.S. CITES Delegation

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a multinational agreement that entered into force in 1975 to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct because of international trade. Under this treaty, countries work together to ensure that international trade in animal and plant species is not detrimental to the survival of wild populations by regulating the import, export, re-export, and introduction from the sea of certain animal and plant species. The goal is to ensure that any trade in protected plant and animal species is sustainable and based on sound biological understanding and principles.

		U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service \| The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the lead Federal agency responsible for implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Section 8 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support CITES implementation. In accordance with the Convention, to implement the treaty, the Service established a Division of Management Authority (DMA) and a Division of Scientific Authority (DSA) under the agency's International Affairs program. DMA implements an international permitting program and monitors trade, among other duties. DSA provides scientific advice on the issuance of permits for international trade, the listing of native and foreign species under CITES, and implementation of the Wild Bird Conservation Act, and other policy matters, as they relate to international wildlife trade and exotic species. DMA and DSA work with the Office of Law Enforcement (LE) to monitor and regulate exports of listed species. The Service leads the CITES delegations and coordinates closely with other Federal agencies to ensure a united government position for all CITES actions and resolutions. Officials from the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior lead the CITES delegation.

		U.S. Department of Justice \| The U.S Department of Justice's agency, the Environment and Natural Resources Division's mission is, through litigation in the federal and state courts, to safeguard and enhance the American environment; acquire and manage public lands and natural resources; and protect and manage Indian rights and property. The Division's Wildlife and Marine Resources Section is responsible for civil cases arising under the fish and wildlife conservation laws, including violations of the Endangered Species Act, which protects endangered and threatened animals and plants, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which protects animals such as whales, seals and dolphins. The Environmental Crimes Section also brings criminal prosecutions under these laws against, for example, people who are found smuggling wildlife and plants into the United States. There is a major worldwide black market for some endangered species or products made from them. The main federal agencies that the Division represents in this area are the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. DOJ will assist the U.S. delegation on agenda items related to law enforcement, legal interpretation, and other enforcement/compliance issues and provide expertise on practices relating specifically to CITES enforcement by the United States.

		U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service \| The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) enforces the provisions of CITES related to plants and works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Officials from APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program inspect all plant shipments imported into the United States through the 16 plant-inspection stations located nationwide. Depending upon inspection results, APHIS employees may refuse entry, seize, or release plants that are imported or presented for export. APHIS is responsible for enforcing plant quarantine laws and the CITES permit requirements during these plant inspections.to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues. For more information visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/cites_endan...

		U.S. Department of State \| The Department of State, through the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), coordinates the development of U.S. foreign policy approaches to conserving and sustainably managing the world's ecologically and economically important ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, drylands and coral reefs, and the species that depend on them. The Bureau also focuses on conservation of fisheries and other living marine resources, as well as their associated ecosystems and has primary responsibility for international ocean law and policy, marine pollution, marine mammals, polar affairs, maritime boundaries, maritime security, and marine science. OES also leads the formulation of policies to address international threats to biodiversity, notably land degradation, invasive species and illegal trade, as well as issues associated with the safe handling of living modified organisms and with access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits arising from subsequent resource use. The Bureau advances U.S. interests on these matters in a wide variety of international organizations, institutions, treaties and other forums within and outside the United Nations system. In addition to CITES they include the UN Forum on Forests, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention of Wetlands of International Importance, and the International Coral Reef Initiative. In addition, OES negotiates bilateral and multilateral ocean and polar agreements, as well as fisheries agreements; participates in international fisheries conservation and management organizations and arrangements at the regional and global levels; and represents the U.S. in a variety of other international forums associated with the conservation and management of living marine resources. Moreover, traditional perceptions of the inexhaustibility of marine resources and of the capacity of the oceans to neutralize wastes have changed, as marine species have been progressively depleted by harvesting and their habitats damaged or threatened by pollution and a variety of human activities. Maintaining the health and productive capacity of the oceans while seeking to meet the economic aspirations of growing populations also requires difficult choices.

		U.S. Forest Service \| The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is a Federal agency that manages public lands in national forests and grasslands. The Forest Service is also the largest forestry research organization in the world, and provides technical and financial assistance to state and private forestry agencies. Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the Forest Service, summed up the purpose of the Forest Service—"to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run." The Forest Service provides technical expertise on forest associated species at CITES.

		National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration \| The mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is to understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service is dedicated to the stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management, and the promotion of healthy ecosystems.

		Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies \| The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies—the organization that represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies—promotes sound management and conservation, and speaks with a unified voice on important fish and wildlife issues. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is the collective voice of North America’s fish and wildlife agencies at every level of government. The Association provides its member agencies and their senior staff with coordination services that range from migratory birds, fish habitat, and invasive species, to conservation education, leadership development, and international relations. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key conservation and management policies, and works to ensure that all fish and wildlife entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides management and technical assistance to both new and current fish and wildlife leaders.

		U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service \| The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the lead Federal agency responsible for implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Section 8 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support CITES implementation. In accordance with the Convention, to implement the treaty, the Service established a Division of Management Authority (DMA) and a Division of Scientific Authority (DSA) under the agency's International Affairs program. DMA implements an international permitting program and monitors trade, among other duties. DSA provides scientific advice on the issuance of permits for international trade, the listing of native and foreign species under CITES, and implementation of the Wild Bird Conservation Act, and other policy matters, as they relate to international wildlife trade and exotic species. DMA and DSA work with the Office of Law Enforcement (LE) to monitor and regulate exports of listed species. The Service leads the CITES delegations and coordinates closely with other Federal agencies to ensure a united government position for all CITES actions and resolutions. Officials from the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior lead the CITES delegation.

		U.S. Department of Justice \| The U.S Department of Justice's agency, the Environment and Natural Resources Division's mission is, through litigation in the federal and state courts, to safeguard and enhance the American environment; acquire and manage public lands and natural resources; and protect and manage Indian rights and property. The Division's Wildlife and Marine Resources Section is responsible for civil cases arising under the fish and wildlife conservation laws, including violations of the Endangered Species Act, which protects endangered and threatened animals and plants, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which protects animals such as whales, seals and dolphins. The Environmental Crimes Section also brings criminal prosecutions under these laws against, for example, people who are found smuggling wildlife and plants into the United States. There is a major worldwide black market for some endangered species or products made from them. The main federal agencies that the Division represents in this area are the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. DOJ will assist the U.S. delegation on agenda items related to law enforcement, legal interpretation, and other enforcement/compliance issues and provide expertise on practices relating specifically to CITES enforcement by the United States.

		U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service \| The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) enforces the provisions of CITES related to plants and works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Officials from APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program inspect all plant shipments imported into the United States through the 16 plant-inspection stations located nationwide. Depending upon inspection results, APHIS employees may refuse entry, seize, or release plants that are imported or presented for export. APHIS is responsible for enforcing plant quarantine laws and the CITES permit requirements during these plant inspections.to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues. For more information visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/cites_endan...

		U.S. Department of State \| The Department of State, through the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), coordinates the development of U.S. foreign policy approaches to conserving and sustainably managing the world's ecologically and economically important ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, drylands and coral reefs, and the species that depend on them. The Bureau also focuses on conservation of fisheries and other living marine resources, as well as their associated ecosystems and has primary responsibility for international ocean law and policy, marine pollution, marine mammals, polar affairs, maritime boundaries, maritime security, and marine science. OES also leads the formulation of policies to address international threats to biodiversity, notably land degradation, invasive species and illegal trade, as well as issues associated with the safe handling of living modified organisms and with access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits arising from subsequent resource use. The Bureau advances U.S. interests on these matters in a wide variety of international organizations, institutions, treaties and other forums within and outside the United Nations system. In addition to CITES they include the UN Forum on Forests, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention of Wetlands of International Importance, and the International Coral Reef Initiative. In addition, OES negotiates bilateral and multilateral ocean and polar agreements, as well as fisheries agreements; participates in international fisheries conservation and management organizations and arrangements at the regional and global levels; and represents the U.S. in a variety of other international forums associated with the conservation and management of living marine resources. Moreover, traditional perceptions of the inexhaustibility of marine resources and of the capacity of the oceans to neutralize wastes have changed, as marine species have been progressively depleted by harvesting and their habitats damaged or threatened by pollution and a variety of human activities. Maintaining the health and productive capacity of the oceans while seeking to meet the economic aspirations of growing populations also requires difficult choices.

		U.S. Forest Service \| The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is a Federal agency that manages public lands in national forests and grasslands. The Forest Service is also the largest forestry research organization in the world, and provides technical and financial assistance to state and private forestry agencies. Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the Forest Service, summed up the purpose of the Forest Service—"to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run." The Forest Service provides technical expertise on forest associated species at CITES.

		National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration \| The mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is to understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service is dedicated to the stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management, and the promotion of healthy ecosystems.

		Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies \| The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies—the organization that represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies—promotes sound management and conservation, and speaks with a unified voice on important fish and wildlife issues. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is the collective voice of North America’s fish and wildlife agencies at every level of government. The Association provides its member agencies and their senior staff with coordination services that range from migratory birds, fish habitat, and invasive species, to conservation education, leadership development, and international relations. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key conservation and management policies, and works to ensure that all fish and wildlife entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides management and technical assistance to both new and current fish and wildlife leaders.

About CITES and the U.S. Delegation

U.S. CITES Delegation