Nomenclature Committee

The Nomenclature Committee was established in recognition of the need to standardize the nomenclature used in the Appendices and in other CITES documents. The Committee recommends standard names for animal or plants species, to the level of subspecies or botanical variety. The Appendices are reviewed routinely to ensure correct use of zoological and botanical nomenclature, and other documents are reviewed by the Committee on request. New or updated names are proposed to the Conference of the Parties for adoption. An important aspect of the work of the Nomenclature Committee is to verify that changes in the names used to refer to species do not cause changes in the scope of protection of the taxon concerned.

Membership of the Nomenclature Committee is voluntary. It comprises one zoologist and one botanist appointed by the Conference of the Parties, who work with other experts to fulfil the Committee's role. The Nomenclature Committee informs the Animals and Plants Committees of its progress at each of their meetings and reports at each meeting of the Conference of the Parties. Meetings of the Nomenclature Committee are usually held in parallel with meetings of the two other scientific committees. Click here for further information on these meetings.