Received: 23 May, 2007. Accepted: 9 September, 2007. Invited Mini-Review Functional Ecosystems and Communities ©2007 Global Science Books The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and its Role in Conservation of Cacti and Other Succulent Plants Maurizio Sajeva 1*  Francesco Carimi 2**  Noel McGough 3*** 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Botaniche dell’Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 38, I-90123 Palermo, Italy 2 Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Unità Organizzativa Regionale di Palermo, Italy 3 Conventions and Policy Section, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, United Kingdom Corresponding author: * sajeva@unipa.it, ** francesco.carimi@igv.cnr.it, *** n.mcgough@kew.org.uk ABSTRACT The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) contributes to nature conservation by regulating international trade in listed species by means of a permit system. Through this control system all parties assist in maintaining the listed rare and threatened species in the wild. CITES allows trade in wild specimens up to a level that is not detrimental for the survival of the species in the wild, that is, a use of nature commonly referred to as sustainable use. The basis of CITES are discussed with special emphasis on the Cactaceae and other succulent plants included in the Convention. The framework of regulation of plants in trade is outlined and the impact of illegal trade is discussed. The definition of artificial propagation used by CITES is explained. Additional references and resources for an in-depth study of the convention are provided. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: biodiversity, legislation, non-detriment, policy, regulation, sustainable use CONTENTS INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................................................................ 80 THE CITES FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................................................................................................... 81 CACTI, SUCCULENT PLANTS AND CITES ........................................................................................................................................... 82 Cactaceae ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 82 Succulent Euphorbiaceae......................................................................................................................................................................... 82 Aloe.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 82 Pachypodium ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 82 Didiereaceae ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 82 Fouquieria ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 82 Anacampseros and Avonia ....................................................................................................................................................................... 83 Welwitschia mirabilis............................................................................................................................................................................... 83 Dioscorea ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 83 Nolina interrata ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 83 Lewisia serrata ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 84 Dudleya ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 84 Bromeliaceae ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 84 Agave ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 84 EXEMPTIONS FOR ARTIFICIALLY PROPAGATED PLANTS .............................................................................................................. 84 CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 84 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 84 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................................................................. 84 SUGGESTED WEB SITES RELATED TO CITES..................................................................................................................................... 85 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Habitat destruction is the main cause of the strong decline in biodiversity, but trade of wild plants and animals is cer- tainly the second cause. The idea of regulating trade in wildlife first arose in the 1960’s with a draft resolution ap- proved by the IUCN – the International Union for Conser- vation of Nature – in 1963. The text of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was approved by some 80 countries in 1973, and entered into force in July 1975. CITES is under the umbrella of the Uni- ted Nations through The United Nations Environment Prog- ramme (UNEP). Nowadays over 170 countries are member states of CITES (Fig. 1). CITES aims to control and regulate trade of species whose trade is, or can be in the near future, a serious threat to their survival in habitat. The intentions of CITES are clearly stated in the preamble to the text of the Convention, claiming for protection of biodiversity: “The contracting States recognizing that wild fauna and flora in their many beautiful and varied forms are an irreplaceable part of the