No. 921                                       Geneva, 20 June 1996


CONCERNING:


                    Checklist of CITES Species


1.In  April  1996  the CITES Secretariat  and  the  World
  Conservation  Monitoring Centre  (WCMC)  published  the
  Checklist  of  CITES  Species,  in  the  three  working
  languages  of  the Convention. This book  replaces  the
  Checklist of CITES Fauna and Flora.

2.The  Checklist of CITES Species provides  the  official
  alphabetical  list of CITES species,  their  scientific
  synonyms,  their  common names in English,  French  and
  Spanish  (to  the extent that these were  available  to
  the  compilers)  and an indication of the  appendix  in
  which  they  are listed. It also contains  the  current
  appendices  and  the  text of the  Convention,  in  the
  three working languages.

3.The  production of the Checklist is a major undertaking
  and  an  expensive one. The Secretariat would therefore
  greatly   appreciate  the  comments  of   the   Parties
  regarding  the  utility  of this  publication  and  the
  desirability of updating it after each meeting  of  the
  Conference  of the Parties. If there is  a  demand  for
  further  updated  editions,  it  will  be  possible  to
  produce these soon after each meeting.

4.The   production  of  the  new  Checklist  was  delayed
  because  of  the decision to produce it  in  the  three
  working languages of the Convention. It took some  time
  to  compile  the  common names in the three  languages.
  Nevertheless,  the  publishers  are  aware  that   many
  common  names  in French and Spanish are  missing.  The
  Secretariat  would  very much value the  assistance  of
  the  Parties  in filling the gaps so that,  if  further
  editions   are  produced,  they  are  as  complete   as
  possible.

5.Copies   of  the  Checklist  have  been  sent  to   the
  Management  Authorities of the Parties free  of  charge
  direct from WCMC.

6.Additional  copies of the Checklist are available  from
  the CITES Secretariat for CHF 35 a copy plus postage.