Tree species evaluation using the new CITES listing criteria

1. Introduction

The CITES listing criteria were applied to tree species for the first time in Phase 1 of this project undertaken by WCMC. Fifty-eight species were selected: care was taken in choosing representatives from various continents and various climatic regions, trees that were listed in the Appendices and some that were not listed, and covering various degrees and forms of utilisation. The choice was made in such a way as to evaluate trees with no known use at all, as well as trees used in the pharmaceutical or wood or other industries. The results were presented to the Seventh Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee. The Plants Committee congratulated the Netherlands CITES Management Authority and WCMC on the production of the report, noting that it provided a valuable review of the application of the new CITES listing criteria for a range of tree species. Furthermore, the Plants Committee invited the Netherlands CITES Management Authority to continue the process of applying the new CITES listing criteria to tree species included in the CITES appendices and for internationally traded tree species (and other plant species) not included in the CITES appendices.

Phase 2 completed the review of the application of the 1994 CITES listing criteria to timber species. A further 250 tree species were evaluated against the CITES listing criteria. Although far from complete, the list of evaluated tree species aims at providing a reasonable representation of tree species from various regions, climates and grades of commercialisation and conservation. The evaluation includes a preliminary testing of the criteria against the majority of timber species included in the Appendices of CITES (see section 3.1). Application of the criteria to CITES-listed timbers assists in the implementation of a TWG recommendation that:

The Plants Committee under the charge as outlined in Resolution Conf. 9.1, Annex 3, para vii) reviews the list of all timber species currently included in the appendices and reports the results of this review to the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

Subsequently at the Eighth Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee (November 1997) it was agreed that the results of the WCMC Tree Species Evaluation project commissioned by the CITES Management Authority of the Netherlands be used as a basis for this review.

Table 1. Tree species in the CITES Appendices

Species	Appendix	Use
ARAUCARIACEAE
Araucaria araucana	I/II
BERBERIDACEAE
Podophyllum hexandrum	II	Medicinal
CARYOCARACEAE
Caryocar costaricense	II	(Timber)
CUPRESSACEAE
Fitzroya cupressoides	I	Timber
Pilgerodendron uviferum	I	Timber
JUGLANDACEAE
Oreomunnea pterocarpa	II	(Timber)
LEGUMINOSAE (FABACEAE)
Dalbergia nigra	I	Timber
Pericopsis elata	II	Timber
Platymiscium pleiostachyum	II	(Timber)
Pterocarpus santalinus	II	Timber/Medicinal
MAGNOLIACEAE
Magnolia hodgsonii	III
MELIACEAE
Swietenia humilis	II	Timber
Swietenia macrophylla (all popns. in the Americas)	III	Timber
Swietenia mahagoni	II	Timber
PALMAE (ARECACEAE)
Chrysalidocarpus decipiens	II
Neodypsis decaryi	II
PINACEAE
Abies guatemalensis	I	(Timber)
PODOCARPACEAE
Podocarpus parlatorei	I
Podocarpus neriifolius	III
ROSACEAE
Prunus africana	II	Timber/Medicinal
RUBIACEAE
Balmea stormiae	I	(Timber)
TAXACEAE
Taxus wallichiana	II	Medicinal
THYMELEACEAE (AQUILARIACEAE)
Aquilaria malaccensis	II	Medicinal
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE
Guaiacum officinale	II	Timber
Guaiacum sanctum	II	Timber

Note
Use: ( ) indicate use is minor

2. The new CITES listing criteria

Deleted because it quotes Resolution Conf. 9.24.

3. Activities undertaken in the tree species evaluation

3.1 Selection of species

The timber species selected for evaluation were chosen to illustrate a wide range of differing degrees of threat to wild populations and levels of international trade.

In Phase 1, for Southeast Asian and Latin American species a preliminary report prepared for the European Commission, Provision of data on rare and threatened tropical timber species (WCMC, 1991) was used as a partial basis for species selection. This report identified timber species in European trade which were considered threatened in parts of their range. The Tree Conservation Database prepared as an output of the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees project, funded by the Government of the Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs/NEDA was a useful tool in the selection of species for review. A list was prepared from the Database of all the globally threatened tree species assessed as threatened because of decline due to exploitation and for which the threat was annotated as felling (this list is included as Annex 3). From this list 58 species were selected for review in the evaluation process.

In Phase 2, the majority of species selected are tropical in distribution but some temperate species were also considered. In general, it is relatively difficult to find examples of temperate timber species which are threatened by international trade because the species composition of the temperate timber trade is relatively heterogeneous and is restricted to a smaller number of widespread timber species. This is particularly true of the north temperate timber trade which is dominated by a limited range of conifers and hardwoods.

The species selected in Phase 2 include most of the tree species listed in the CITES appendices. Exceptions are Fitzroya cupressoides and Prunus africana evaluated in Phase 1 and the tree species of Aloaceae, Cactaceae, Didiereaceae, and Euphorbiaceae. Futhermore, the species Magnolia hodgsonii and Balmea stormiae have not yet been reviewed. Other species, for example the African mahoganies Entandrophragma and Khaya have been subject to CITES listing proposals in recent years.

In total 255 species were selected for evaluation, and summary information profiles for these species are given in Annex 2. The information profiles are designed as a basis for testing the CITES evaluation criteriaand not intended to be fully comprehensive. Availability of information on individual tree species varies considerably. In the majority of cases current information is limited, fragmentary and, in some cases, availability is restricted.

3.2 Collection of information

Information has been collected and summarised for the tree species selected on distribution, habitat, population status and trends, ecology, threats, uses, conservation status, conservation measures, and recent trade data. These headings broadly correspond to the categories of information specified for inclusion in CITES amendment proposals in Resolution Conf. 9.24.

Information held at WCMC for the selected species was reviewed and supplemented by literature survey and correspondence with experts. The main source of information on the conservation status of tree species has been the Tree Conservation Database. This records information on distribution, mainly at national or state level, for over 20,000 tree species. Conservation status is recorded in the Database for about 7000 tree species following the 1994 IUCN Red List categories. For globally threatened tree species supplementary information is recorded on habitat, ecology, threats, uses and level of use, conservation measures and bibliographic references. This information has been compiled during the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees project. In general, the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees project has concentrated on endemic and restricted range species and so additional enquiries have been made for the more widespread timber species selected for the tree species evaluation.

Detailed information on timber species in trade is difficult to obtain. The main source of information on recent levels of timber trade has been the international trade statistics compiled by ITTO for member states (see, for example, ITTO, 1997). PROSEA publications have also been an important source of trade data for the Southeast Asian timber species.Information on the non-timber products obtained from the species evaluated has mainly been derived from the FAO Non-wood Forest Products series. The PROSEA and FAO publications have generally been a valuable source of information for the species profiles.

For the African timber species, draft species profiles were prepared and distributed to participants in the Regional workshop for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees project held in Harare, Zimbabwe, 9-11 July 1996. Participants reviewed the information, added supplementary comments and applied the new IUCN categories of threat. For additional African countries not represented at the workshop, notably Benin, Burundi, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo, requests for information focusing on legislation and levels of exploitation for the relevant species were sent to national Forestry Departments.

For the American timber species, draft species profiles were prepared for a selection of species and distributed to participants in the Regional Workshop for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees project held in Turrialba, Costa Rica in November 1996. Participants reviewed the information, added supplementary comments and applied the 1994 IUCN Red List categories to these species.

Draft species profiles for a range of Asian species were prepared for Regional Workshop for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees project held in Hanoi, Viet Nam in August 1997. These profiles were again used as a basis for application of the 1994 IUCN Red List categories.

Information on the conservation status of conifer species has been compiled by the IUCN/SSC Conifer Specialist Group as part of the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees project with species evaluated using the new IUCN categories of threat. This information was added to the appropriate species profiles and additional enquiries were addressed to the Group concerning the presence of the species in international trade.

3.3 Application of the criteria

Evaluation of the selected timber species using the criteria was carried out by Sara Oldfield (Senior Project Officer, WCMC and SSC Trees Network Coordinator); Marianne Sandison (Conservation Officer, Conventions and Policy Section, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) and Amy MacKinven (Research Assistant, Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees project). The evaluations were based mainly on the information in the species profiles. The procedure adopted was to assess each species initially under the new criteria for inclusion on CITES Appendix I, these being the more explicit criteria. If the tree species did not meet the criteria for Appendix I then the new criteria for Appendix II were applied. As explained in Section 2, one of the criteria for Appendix II listing is It is known, inferred or projected that unless trade in the species is subject to strict regulation, it will meet at least one of the criteria listed in Annex 1 (ie. for Appendix I listing) in the near future. It was, therefore, considered necessary to test the species first against the more stringent criteria for Appendix I.

4. Results of the tree species evaluation

A summary of the results of the tree species evaluation is presented in Table 2. It is emphasised that these are preliminary evaluations based on limited information for a wide range of species. More detailed information and quantitative information would, of course, be required to develop CITES amendment proposals.

It was found to be relatively easy to apply the CITES listing criteria to those species which had already been evaluated using the new IUCN categories of threat, if these were accepted as given. However, it should be noted that the criteria by which the IUCN categories are applied are, in themselves, subject to differing interpretation by individuals. This is discussed further under the review of species for Appendix II listing.

Table 2. Summary of results of tree species evaluation

Species	Meets criteria for		Result	Notes
	App. I	App. II
Abies guatemalensis	?	?	?II Bi	On the basis of the IUCN threat category alone, Appendix I criteria may not be met
Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-troujani	x	x		NOT in International trade.
Acacia crassicarpa	x	x
Acer laurinum	x	x		Unlikely to be in trade; insufficient information on conservation status
Afzelia africana	x	?	?II	Not enough information to assign Appendix II criteria.
Afzelia bipindensis	x	ü	IIBi, Bii	Bi - heavily exploited. Bii - habitat loss, only few seed trees.
Afzelia pachyloba	x	ü	IIBi, Bii	Bi - heavily exploited. Bii - habitat loss, only few seed trees.
Afzelia rhomboidea	x	ü	II Bi
Agathis borneensis	x	ü	II Bi	Appears to meet the criteria but there are taxonomic uncertainties about this species.
Agathis endertii	x	x
Agathis moorei	x	ü	II Bi
Agathis spathulata	x	x		May qualify if logging intensifies – current evaluation based on IUCN category.
Agathis vitiensis	x	x		May qualify if logging intensifies – current evaluation based on IUCN category.
Aglaia penningtoniana	x	x
Aglaia perviridis	x	x
Aglaia silvestris	x	x
Ailanthus integrifolia ssp. integrifolia	x	x
Allanblackia stuhlmannii	x	x		Not in international trade
Alloxylon brachycarpum	x	ü	II Bi
Alnus acuminata	x	x
Alstonia pneumatophora	x	x
Amburana acreana	x	ü	II Bi	There is some taxonomic uncertainty about the species. It may be conspecific with A. cearensis which also meets App. II criteria – see Annex .
Amburana cearensis	x	ü	II Bii	Bii - isolated populations needing cross pollination. Based on limited information.
Anadenanthera macrocarpa	x	x
Aniba rosaeodora	x	ü	II Bi
Antrocaryon micraster	x	x
Aquilaria malaccensis	x	ü	II Bi
Araucaria angustifolia	ü		I Bi,iv or D	Based on the IUCN category VU (B1+2) the extent of occupancy is < 20,000km² but > 5,000km².
Araucaria araucana	ü
Araucaria cunninghamii	?	?		Insufficient information on conservation status.
Araucaria hunsteinii	x	x
Aspidosperma polyneuron	x	ü	II Bi	Bi - heavily exploited Based on limited information.
Astronium urundeuva	x	?	II ?	Threatened by commercial exploitation but presence in international trade unclear.
Aucoumea klaineana	x	ü	II Bi, (Bii?)	Bi - heavily exploited. Uncertain whether Bii applies.
Autranella congolensis	ü		I Ci	Based on IUCN category (CR A1).
Baikiaea plurijuga	x	x
Baillonella toxisperma	x	ü	II Bi,ii	Bi - heavily exploited. Bii - habitat loss, extremely slow to reach maturity, has restricted regeneration.
Balfourodendron riedelianum	x	ü	II Bi	Based on IUCN category (EN A1acd+2cd) & very little additional information.
Balmea Stormae	?	?
Beilschmiedia ugandensis	x	x
Bertholletia excelsa	x	x
Bombacopsis quinata	x	x
Boswellia sacra	x	x
Brachylaena huillensis (syn. Brachylaena hutchisonii)	x	?	?II	Not enough information to assign Appendix II criteria.
Caesalpinia echinata	x	ü	II Bi
Caesalpinia paraguariensis	x	x		Assumed not to be in international trade.
Calophyllum canum	?	?		Insufficient information.
Calophyllum carrii var. longigemmatum	x	x
Calophyllum euryphyllum	x	x
Calophyllum inophyllum	x	x
Calophyllum insularum	x	ü	II Bi
Calophyllum papuanum	x	x
Calophyllum waliense	x	ü	II Bi
Canarium luzonicum	x	x
Canarium pseudosumatranum	x	x		On the basis of IUCN category.
Cantleya corniculatum	x	ü	II Bi
Cariniana estrellensis	?	?		Insufficient information.
Cariniana legalis	x	?		Insufficient information.
Caryocar costaricense	?	ü	A	Uncertainty about the trade situation remains. However the species is very rare and if there is any threat of trade Appendix I is probably more appropriate.
Cedrela fissilis	x	ü	II Bi	Bi - heavily exploited Based on limited information.
Cedrela lilloi	x	?	? II Bi	If in international trade Appendix II criteria do apply.
Cedrela odorata	x	x
Cephalotaxus oliveri	x	ü	II Bii	Bii - habitat loss, dioecious species therefore infrequent regeneration. Unsure if this species is in international trade (Trade criteria ii?).
Cercidiphyllum japonicum	x	x
Ceroxylon quindiuense	x	x
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana	ü		I Ci	Based on IUCN threat category and decline > 50 per cent in the last century.
Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana	x	ü	II Bi, (Bii?)	Bi - exploited, general deforestation for other timber species. Unsure if this species is in international trade (Trade criteria ii?).
Chlorocardium rodiei	x	ü	II Bi	If production is shown to be sustainable in Guyana this result would not apply.
Chloroxylon swietenia	x	?		Insufficient information on trade.
Cinnamomum parthenoxylon	x	x
Copaifera salikounda	x	ü	IIBi	Bi - based on Hawthorne's (1995a) analysis for Ghana and assuming the evergreen forests in the neighbouring countries are similarly exploited.
Cordeauxia edulis	x	x
Cordia dodecandra	?	?		Insufficient information.
Cordia millenii	x	x
Cordia platythyrsa	x	x
Cupressus dupreziana	ü		IA	NOT in International trade.
Cynometra inaequifolia	x	x
Dacrydium nausoriense	x	x		The species is Endangered, in part through exploitation, but this is not thought to be for international trade.
Dalbergia annamensis	x	ü	II Bi	On the basis of IUCN category – but very little additional information.
Dalbergia bariensis	x	ü	II Bi	On the basis of IUCN category – but very little additional information.
Dalbergia baronii	x	x
Dalbergia cambodiana	x	ü	II Bi	On the basis of IUCN category – but very little additional information.
Dalbergia chaplieri	x	x
Dalbergia chlorocarpa	x	x
Dalbergia cochinchinensis	x	ü	II Bi
Dalbergia davidii	ü		I A
Dalbergia delphinensis	ü		I B
Dalbergia greveana	x	x	II Bi
Dalbergia latifolia	x	?	?II Bi
Dalbergia louvelii	x	ü
Dalbergia mammosa	x	ü	II Bi
Dalbergia maritima	x	ü	II Bi
Dalbergia nigra	ü		I Ci	Although recorded as VU, an IUCN category of Endangered is probably more appropriate.
Dalbergia oliveri	x	ü	II Bi
Dalbergia purpurascens	x
Dalbergia retusa	x	ü	II Bi
Dalbergia stevensoni	x	ü	IIBi	Awaiting confirmation of threat status
Dalbergia tonkinensis	x	ü	II Bi
Dehaasia caesia	?	?		Insufficient information.
Dehaasia cuneata	?	?		Insufficient information.
Dialium cochinchinense	x	x
Diospyros celebica	?	?		No recent threat categorisation
Diospyros crassiflora	x	?	?II	Not enough information to assign Appendix II criteria.
Diospyros discolor	?	?		Insufficient information
Diospyros ebenum	?	?		Insufficient information
Diospyros ferrea	x	x		Major concern in Papua New Guinea.
Diospyros hemiteles	x	x		Critically Endangered but not affected by trade.
Diospyros insularis	ü
Diospyros mun	x	ü	II Bi
Diospyros philippinensis	x	?	?II	Information needed for Sulawesi
Diospyros pilosanthera	x	x
Diospyros rumphii	?	?		Insufficient information
Dipteryx alata	?	?		Insufficient information
Durio dulcis	x	x
Durio kutejensis	x	x
Dyera costulata	x	x
Dyera polyphylla	x	ü	II Bi
Entandrophragma angolense	x	x		More information needed on regeneration extent of plantation and sustainable management. Listing may be appropriate from certain populations.
Entandrophragma candollei	x	x		More information needed on regeneration extent of plantation and sustainable management. Listing may be appropriate from certain populations
Entandrophragma caudatum	x	x
Entandrophragma cylindricum	x	x		More information needed on regeneration extent of plantation and sustainable management. Listing may be appropriate from certain populations
Entandrophragma delevoyi	?	?		|Insufficient information
Entandrophragma excelsum	x	x
Entandrophragma utile	x	x		More information needed on regeneration extent of plantation and sustainable management. Listing may be appropriate from certain populations
Eribroma oblonga	x	x		Syn. Sterculia oblonga
Erythrophleum fordii	x	?	?II Bi	Although this species is threatened by exploitation for its timber it is unclear whether it is traded internationally.
Esenbeckia leiocarpa	?	?		Insufficient information
Eugenia flosculifera	?	?
Eugenia koordersiana	x	x
Eugenia ridleyi	x	x
Eusideroxylon zwageri	x	ü	II Bi	Primarily local trade but there are some exports.
Fagus longipetiolata	x	x		Not thought to be in international trade.
Fitzroya cupressoides	ü		IBi
Flindersia ifflaina	x	ü	II Bi
Flindersia laevicarpa	x	ü	II Bi
Flindersia schottiana	x	x
Geijera salicifolia	?	?	? II Bi	This species is considered Critically Endangered in PNG and there is some trade threat; situation elsewhere unclear.
Gluta papuana	x	ü	II Bi
Gmelina arborea	x	x
Gonystylus affinis	?	?		Insufficient information
Gonystylus bancanus	x	ü	II Bi
Gonystylus brunnescens	?	?		Insufficient information
Gonystylus confusus	?	?		Insufficient information
Gonystylus keithii	?	?		Insufficient information
Gonystylus macrophyllus	?	?		Insufficient information
Gonystylus maingayi	?	?		Insufficient information
Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum	x	ü	II Bi,ii	Bi - heavily exploited. Bii - specific habitat type being lost.
Guaiacum officinale	x	ü	II Bi
Guaiacum sanctum	x	ü	II Bi
Guarea cedrata	x	ü	IIBi,ii	Bi - heavily exploited. Bii - habitat loss, shade required for growth.
Guarea thompsonii	x	ü	II Bi,ii	Bi - heavily exploited. Bii - habitat loss, slow growth.
Guibourtia ehie	x	ü	IIBi,ii	Bi - heavily exploited. Bii - habitat loss.
Hallea ledermannii	x	x
Hallea stipulosa	x	x
Haplormosia monophylla	x	?	?II	Not enough information to assign Appendix II criteria.
Heritiera utilis	?	?		Insufficient information
Homalium foetidum	x	x
Hydnocarpus sumatrana	x	x
Ilex paraguaiensis	x	x		Not in international trade
Intsia bijuga	x	x		Certain populations may meet the listing criteria
Irvingia gabonensis	x	x
Jackiopsis ornata	?	?		Insufficient information
Joannesia princeps	?	?		Insufficient information
Jubaea chilensis	x	x
Juglans neotropica	x	ü	II Bi
Juniperus bermudiana	x	x		Critically Endangered but no trade or threat of trade.
Juniperus procera	x	x
Kalappia celebica	?	?	?I B / II Bi	Depleted by logging; the IUCN threat category is conservative; uncertainty as to whether there is any current trade. On the basis of its limited distribution may qualify for Appendix I.
Khaya anthotheca	x	x		More information needed on regeneration extent of plantation and sustainable management. Listing may be appropriate from certain populations
Khaya grandifoliola	x	x		More information needed on regeneration extent of plantation and sustainable management. Listing may be appropriate from certain populations
Khaya ivorensis	x	ü	IIBi,ii	Bi - heavily exploited. Bii - very little regeneration after disturbance (e.g. logging).
Khaya madagascariensis	x	?	?II Bi	Uncertain whether this species is in international trade
Khaya senegalensis	x	x
Kingiodendron pinnatum	ü		I C	Based on population decline (50% in last 20 years)
Kjellbergiodendron celebicum	?	?		Insufficient information
Kokoona leucoclada	?	?		Based on rarity may qualify for Appendix I
Koompassia excelsa	x	x
Koompassia grandiflora	x	ü	II Bi
Koompassia malaccensis	x	x
Lagarostrobos franklinii	x	x
Liquidambar styraciflua	x	x
Lophira alata	x	ü	II Bi	Bi - heavily exploited.
Lophopetalum javanicum	x	x
Lophopetalum multinervium	x	x
Lophopetalum pachyphyllum	?	?		Insufficient information
Lophopetalum rigidum	?	?		Insufficient information
Lovoa swynnertonii	x	ü	IIBi, ii	Bi - heavily exploited. Bii - habitat loss, poor regeneration.
Lovoa trichilioides	x	ü	II Bi	Bi - exploited.
Machaerium villosum	?	?		Insufficient information
Madhuca betis	?	?		Insufficient information
Madhuca boerlageana	x	ü		Critically Endangered in PNG – Appendix I appropriate but status in Indonesia less clear.
Madhuca pasquieri	x	?	?II Bi	Threatened by felling in both range states, extent of trade unclear.
Magnolia hodgsonii	?	?
Mangifera decandra	?	?		Insufficient information
Mangifera macrocarpa	x	x
Manglietia aromatica	?	?	?II Bi	Threatened by felling in both range states, extent of trade unclear
Manilkara kanosiensis	x	ü	II Bi
Mansonia altissima	x	ü	IIBi	Bi - heavily exploited.
Mastixiodendron stoddardii	x	x
Merrillia caloxylon	?	?		Insufficient information; not thought to be in trade
Mezilaurus itauba	x	x		In trade and under threat but insufficient information.
Microberlinia bisulcata	ü		ICi	Based on IUCN category (CR A1) & very little additional information.
Microberlinia brazzavillensis	ü		ICi	Based on IUCN category (CR A1) & very little additional information.
Milicia excelsa	x	ü	II Bi?	Bi – heavily exploited but Considered marginal due to widespread distribution.
Milicia regia	x	ü	II Bi	Bi – heavily exploited.
Millettia laurentii	x	ü	II Bi, (Bii?)	Bi – heavily exploited. Bii - not enough information.
Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia	?	?		Insufficient information.
Mimosa verrucosa	?	?		Insufficient information.
Minquartia guianensis	x	x
Monopetalanthus heitzii	?	?	?	Not enough information.
Myrocarpus frondosus	?	?		Insufficient information
Nauclea diderrichii	x	x	x
Neesia altissima	?	?		Insufficient information
Neesia malayana	?	?		Insufficient information
Neobalanocarpus heimii	x	?	?II Bi	There has been come uncertainty about the rate of decline.
Nesogordonia papaverifera	x	ü	II Bi	Bi – considered marginal because although this species is heavily exploited, it also occurs in plantations.
Nothofagus alessandri	X	X		Not thought to be in international trade
Nothofagus glauca	x	x
Ochanostachys amentacea	x	x
Ocotea catharinensis
Ocotea kenyensis	x	x
Ocotea odorifera	x	ü	II Bi
Ocotea porosa	x	ü	II Bi
Octomeles sumatrana	x	x
Oreomunnea pterocarpa	?	ü	II A	Uncertainty about the trade situation remains. However the species is considered Endangered and if there is any threat of trade Appendix I is probably more appropriate.
Palaquium bataanense	?	?		Insufficient information
Palaquium impressinervium	?	?		Insufficient information
Palaquium maingayi	x	x
Parinari costata ssp. costata	?	?		Insufficient information
Parinari oblongifolia	?	?		Insufficient information
Pericopsis elata	X	ü	II Bi
Pericopsis mooniana	x	ü	II Bi + ii	Widespread but widely threatened by logging for valuable timber.
Phoebe macrophylla	?	?		Insufficient information
Phoebe nanmu	x	ü	II Bi
Phytelephas seemannii	x	x
Phytelephas tumacana	?	?		Information required on levels of trade
Pilgerodendron uviferum	ü			A higher category of threat may be appropriate.
Pinus amamiana	x	x		Not in trade
Pinus merkusii	x	x
Pinus pentaphylla	x	x
Pinus tecunumanii	x	ü	II Bi and Bii
Pitavia punctata	?	?		Insufficient information
Pithecellobium splendens	?	?		Insufficient information
Planchonia valida	?	?		Insufficient information
Platanus orientalis	x	x
Platymiscium parviflorum	x	ü	II A	Uncertainty about the trade situation remains. However the species is considered Endangered and if there is any threat of trade Appendix I is probably more appropriate.
Platymenia foliolosa	?	?		Insufficient information
Podocarpus annamensis	?	?		Threatened by logging but no information on trade situation
Podocarpus parlatorei	ü			An IUCN threat category has not yet been assigned but this species is considered threatened and in the absence of further information appropriately listed on Appendix I
Populus ilicifolia	x	x
Pouteria altissima	x	x
Prumnopitys andina	x	x		Assessment based on IUCN category but more information may indicate that criteria are fulfilled
Prunus africana	?			Based on the IUCN category this species would fulfil Appendix I criteria. However the IUCN category appears to be misapplied. Without this categorisation the species as a whole would not appear to meet any current criteria for CITES listing.
Pterocarpus angolensis	x	x		This species is of concern in Zambia and Mozambique but is of no concern in South Africa.
Pterocarpus dalbergioides	?	?		Insufficient information
Pterocarpus indicus	x	?	?II Bi
Pterocarpus macrocarpus	?	?		Insufficient information
Pterocarpus santalinus	ü		I A	Range < 10,000 km sq
Pterocymbium beccarii	x	x
Pterocymbium tinctorium	?	?		Insufficient information
Pterocymbium tubulatum	?	?		Insufficient information
Pterygota bequaertii	x	x
Pterygota macrocarpa	x	x
Pterogyne nitens	x	ü	II Bi
Santalum album	x	x
Santalum macgregorii	x	ü	II Bi
Santiria laevigata	x	x
Scaphium longiflorum	x	?		Insufficient information
Schinopsis balansae	x	x
Shorea curtisii	x	x
Sindora beccariana	?	?		Insufficient information
Sindora inermis	?	?		Insufficient information
Sindora supa	?	?		The IUCN category for this species is conservative; no information on trade
Strombosia javanica	?	?		Insufficient information
Swartzia fistuloides	x	?	?II	Not enough information to assign Appendix II criteria.
Swietenia humilis
Swietenia macrophylla	x	ü	II Bi
Swietenia mahagoni	x	ü	II Bi
Syagrus glaucescens	?			The IUCN category suggests no immediate concern but is rather contradicted by population status and trends summary
Tabebuia impetiginosa	?	?		Insufficient information.
Taiwania cryptomerioides	x	x		Threatened by logging but no information on trade situation; assumed not to be in international trade.
Taxus wallichiana	x	ü	II A
Tectona grandis	x	x
Tectona hamiltoniana	x	x
Tectona philippinensis	ü		IB
Terminalia archipelagi	ü		IA
Terminalia ivorensis	x	x
Terminalia rerei	x	ü	II Bi and ii
Terminalia superba
Testulea gabonensis	x	ü	IIBi	Bi - based on IUCN threat category EN (A1c,d).
Tieghemella africana	x	?	?II	Not enough information to assign Appendix II criteria.
Tieghemella heckelii	x	ü	II Bi,ii	Bi - heavily exploited. Bii - habitat loss, elephants are required for regeneration.
Toona calantas	?	?		Insufficient information
Triomma malaccensis	?	?		Insufficient information
Triplochiton scleroxylon	x	x
Turraeanthus africanus	x	x
Ulmus wallichiana	?	?		Insufficient information
Vitellaria paradoxa	x	x
Vitex keniensis	x	x
Vouacapoua americana	?	?		IUCN category of Critically Endangered is based on information for Brazil only more information is needed for other countries and on the trade situation.
Vavaea bantamensis	?	?		Insufficient information
Vepris glandulosa	ü		IA &B
Virola surinamensis	x	ü	II Bi
Vitex parviflora
Wallaceodendron celebicum	?	?		Insufficient information
Warburgia salutaris	x	ü	II Bi
Washingtonia filifera
Widdringtonia whytei	ü		I B
Zanthoxylum flavum	?	?		Insufficient information on whether trade is ongoing
Zeyheria tuberculosa	?	?		Insufficient trade information.

KEY

x Does not meet the criterion

ü Meet the criterion

? Not enough information available to apply the criterion

4.1 Review of species for Appendix I listing

Criteria for Appendix I listing generally have a quantitative element, which is elaborated on in the guidelines provided by Annex 5 of CITES Resolution Conf. 9.24. It is emphasised in these guidelines that the figures given are indicative only and that there are many cases where they will not apply. As with much of the rest of the guidelines, there is considerable room for interpretation. Nevertheless, application of the CITES criteria for Appendix I tended to be a straightforward exercise when sufficient information on the species was available and, in such cases, there was little doubt when a species fulfilled the criteria.

Criteria A and B concern small population sizes and ranges respectively. Species must also fulfil certain additional, often loosely specified, sub-criteria. Criterion A requires that the species has a small wild population. Population size is intended to refer to the total number of individuals. Resolution Conf. 9.24 indicates that information on population status in amendment proposals, should give an estimate of the total population or number of individuals with: i) date and nature of census; ii) justification for any inferences made about population size and/or number of individuals. In fact there are very few overall population estimates for tree species so this criterion is generally not of major relevance. Furthermore, assuming that most tree species occur within their area of distribution at densities higher than 0.5 per km², a tree species which meets the major part of Criterion A (population < 5000) will, in general, also meet Criterion B (area of distribution < 10,000 km²).

Two species evaluated are considered to fulfill Criterion A for listing on Appendix I of CITES. These are Dalbergia davidii and Terminalia archipelagi. Dalbergia davidii is only known from a single locality in Madagascar. It occurs in lowland, deciduous forest, where selective felling of this rosewood species occurs for the export market. Logging activities take place despite the locality being contained in Ankarafantsika Strict Nature Reserve. The IUCN Red List category given for the species is Endangered B1+2de, C1. The IUCN Criterion C for Endangered species indicates a population of less than 2500 mature individuals. Terminalia archipelagi occurs only on the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. It is found mainly in lowland primary rainforest where it can be locally dominant.

It is very much sought after for log export as it is favoured for plywood and has been given an IUCN Red List category of EN A1cd+2cd, C2a.

Criterion B takes into account species with restricted areas of distribution. Adherence to the guidelines for Criterion B means that any tree species qualifies for inclusion in Appendix I which: has an area of distribution less than 10,000 km²; which meets one of a series of sub-criteria (fragmentation of range, vulnerability owing to biology, any decline); and is known to be actually or potentially in trade. In general the timber species examined do not fulfil these criteria because of their widespread distributions. However species which are considered to meet Criterion B for listing on Appendix I of CITES are Dalbergia delphinensis, Pterocarpus santalinus (already listed on Appendix I), Tectona philippinensis and Widdringtonia whytei. Dalbergia delphinensis is confined to theSoutheast of Madagascar, near Taolanaro. The species is threatened throughout its range by selective felling and the decline and fragmentation of its habitat. The location is also under threat of being developed for titanium mining. Dalbergia delphinensis has been assigned an IUCN category of Endangered A2cd, B1+2bcde. The B criterion for Endangered species indicates an extent of occurrence less than 5000 km².

Criterion C concerns species known or suspected to be undergoing, or to have undergone, a decline. It should be noted that the word "decline" is not qualified in the criterion itself, nor is any upper limit to the size of the population of the species concerned given, so that theoretically extremely abundant and widespread species may qualify. The notes to assist in interpreting the criteria indicate that a decrease of 50 per cent or more in total within five years or two generations, whichever is the longer, may be an appropriate guideline. For timber-producing species the greater length of time is invariably two generations.

Information on generation time is not generally available for tree species. In broad terms estimated generation time for trees could be proposed as 5-10 years for pioneer, fast growing species; 50 years for most tree species and 100 years for slow growing species. These generation times have been proposed as working figures in guidelines on the application of the IUCN threat categories to tree species (Jenkins, 1996).

As information on the rate of decline of tree populations is unlikely to be available for individual species, in most cases it will be necessary to use inference or extrapolation, considering, for example, the species in relation to habitat decline. Given the generally long generation times known or presumed for most timber species, a large number of tree species are likely to qualify under Criterion C in that any species whose range has halved through deforestation in the past 100 years (for most trees) or 200 years (for slow-growing species) can be inferred as having its population halved and therefore meeting the Criterion as long as it is, or may be, in international trade.

Good data on forest loss over the past 100 or 200 years are scanty. For some areas, however, such as the Philippines and Southeast Brazil it can be confidently stated that more than half the forest cover has been lost in the past century. There may then be good grounds for asserting that all tree species confined to these areas, which are in trade, merit inclusion in Appendix I, according to the listing criteria.

Criterion C for CITES Appendix I listing can be related to the Criterion A used in the application of the new IUCN categories of threat as they both deal with population decline.

IUCN Criterion A is based on an observed, estimated, inferred or suspected reduction of:

at least 80 per cent decline in 10 years or 3 generations (Critically Endangered)

at least 50 per cent decline in 10 years or 3 generations (Endangered)

at least 20 per cent decline in 10 years or 3 generations (Vulnerable)

If a tree species has been assigned an IUCN threat category of Endangered according to Criterion A, this species would not necessarily fall into Criterion C for Appendix I listing because the rate of decline is over three generations (ie. 150 years) as opposed to two generations (ie. 100 years). However, if a tree species has been assigned an IUCN threat category of Critically Endangered according to Criterion A, then it can be extrapolated that the species does fit into Criterion C for Appendix I listing. Assuming that the population decline is fairly linear then an 80 per cent decline over three generations (IUCN Critically Endangered) is equivalent to a 53 per cent decline over two generations (CITES Appendix I).

Species which are considered to meet Criterion B for listing on Appendix I of CITES are Dalbergia nigra (already listed on CITES Appendix I) and Kingiodendron pinnatum. The range of Kingiodendron pinnatum extends from South Kanara in Karnataka to the southern tip of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, India. The population of this species is believed to have declined by 50% in the last 20 years because of overexploitation, injuries caused by resin collection and habitat degradation.

Dalbergia nigra produces Brazilian Rosewood, one of the most highly prized woods in Brazil. The highest concentrations of the species are located in hygrophilous forest on rich soils in southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo. Exploitation of the timber and devastation of the Atlantic forest habitat are the main reasons for the decline of the species and regeneration appears to be poor. Although the IUCN Red List category of VU A1cd has been applied to the species, it may be that EN A1cd is more appropriate signifying a population reduction of 50 percent over three generations.

4.2 Review of species for Appendix II listing

The criteria for Appendix II were found to be more ambiguous than criteria for Appendix I; terms are not precisely defined, making application of these criteria considerably more difficult.

Listing according to Criterion A requires that species will fulfil listing criteria for Appendix I in the near future, unless the species is subject to strict regulation. There is no definition of 'near future' given in Resolution Conf. 9.24. Criterion A of Appendix II is very similar to Criterion D of Appendix I, with Criterion A having a presumed time scale of longer than that outlined in Criterion D (ie. five years). Timber species evaluated which were considered to satisfy Criterion A for Appendix II listing were those already listed in Appendix II of the Convention following downlisting from Appendix I. These species are Caryocar costaricense, Oreomunnea pterocarpa and Platymiscium parviflorum. These species are all very rare or endangered. The international trade situation remains uncertain particularly with regard to regional trade. If any of the species are in fact in trade or at risk of trade Appendix I listing would seem more appropriate.

In contrast to criteria for listing in Appendix I, where international trade must merely be known or suspected to take place, Criteria B (i and ii) for listing on Appendix II require that international trade has a deleterious effect on the species concerned. The criteria specify either that trade will exceed over an extended period the level that can be continued in perpetuity (Criterion Bi) or will cause or has caused the taxon to become threatened for other reasons (Criterion Bii). Guidance is not given as to interpretation of the term "extended period" within Resolution Conf. 9.24.

In evaluation of the selected timber species, Criterion Bi was understood to mean that the level of exploitation from the wild for international trade was greater than that deemed to be sustainable and Bii was assumed to mean that the level of exploitation from the wild for international trade would reduce the population to a level where threats other than exploitation would jeopardise the species. In practice it was found to be difficult to make the distinction between Criteria Bi and Bii when evaluating tree species. In general, if a forest tree species is being cut down at a level exceeding that which can be continued in perpetuity (Criterion Bi), the species may also be more likely to suffer from the impacts of general forest loss (Criterion Bii).

The main difficulty in application of Criteria B (i and ii) during the evaluation exercise was in determining whether or not sufficient information was available in order to reach a decision. The rationale adopted was to follow the new IUCN categories of threat where they had been previously applied to species, even though these themselves may have been applied using limited data and mainly rely on inference. Where species have been categorised as Endangered using the new IUCN threat categories and criteria, these have generally been considered to meet Criterion B for Appendix II listing but in some cases, not enough information was available.

As previously outlined, the IUCN category, Vulnerable (Criterion A) indicates that the population of a species has declined by at least 20 percent over three generations. Very many tropical tree species could be placed in this category given the rate of deforestation over the past century. It was decided that further considerations should be taken into account, notably information on regeneration, growth rate, habitat specificity, and population density. This has proved to be very difficult for certain species in Phase 2, for example the species of Entandrophragma and Khaya which have already been subject to a controversial CITES listing proposal.

5. Discussion

It is clear from the evaluation exercise that the new CITES listing criteria can be applied to timber species and that many timber species are likely to qualify for listing on the Appendices of CITES. Difficulties in application of the criteria relate to ambiguities in the wording of Annexes of Resolution Conf. 9.24 which may apply equally to the use of the criteria for any species. Ensuring that the criteria are sufficiently flexible for widespread use has resulted in a system with scope for considerable divergences in interpretation.

The limited availability of detailed information for timber species is another problem faced in applying the criteria. Again this is not unique to timber species. It is, in fact, likely that considerably more information is collected at a national level on the distribution, production and trade in timber species, particularly those of international economic importance, than for most other groups of plant or animal species. Collection and collation of data on a particular timber species throughout its range is not, however, an easy task.

To demonstrate for timber species that trade is detrimental to wild populations and unsustainable in the sense required for CITES Appendix II listing, information should ideally be available on standing stocks, increment rates (taking into account both growth rates and regeneration rates) and volumes exported throughout the range. As a crude measure, if annual volume exported overall is greater than annual increment rate then trade can be assumed to be unsustainable. In practice these data are very rarely available in good quantitative form, and if they are it is almost invariably for a small part of the taxon's range. In all cases detailed consideration of the ecology and reproductive strategies of the different tree species would be helpful to assess the impact of trade.

As mentioned in the introduction, Resolution Conf. 9.24 specifies that CITES amendment proposals should provide sufficient information on which to judge the proposal against the listing criteria. Given the relatively controversial nature of timber listing proposals it would appear important to provide thorough documentation to support such proposals. Previous CITES amendment proposals for timber species have failed to win support, in part, because of weak supporting information. Recently it has been suggested that a scientific protocol is required enhancing transparency and compatibility of proposals for (plant) species to be listed. Such a protocol should describe crucial parameters of population dynamics and geographical distribution which should be assessed as well as methods and (sampling) procedures to carry out the actual assessment. Execution of such a protocol would result in verifiable scientific judgement of the actual status of the species. (Lammerts van Bueren, in litt. 1996)

Given the nature of tree species in helping to define the ecosystems in which they occur, and the scale of the international trade in certain species the following steps may be helpful in a process of initial selection of internationally traded timber species for inclusion in the CITES appendices prior to preparation of listing proposals.

i. Determination of the habitat specificity of the species, the extent and rate of decline of the habitat. This will give a quantifiable indication of the extent to which the species is threatened with extinction according to the new IUCN categories of threat. If the timber species meets at least the criteria for listing as Vulnerable it may be appropriate for further consideration.

ii. Collection of inventory, production and trade statistics for at least part of the range of the species, over a period of time, to determine the likelihood of the trade in the species being sustainable (capable of being maintained at the current level in perpetuity). If the trade in the timber species does not appear to be sustainable it may be appropriate for further consideration.

iii. Collection of information on the application of silvicultural techniques and extent of plantation development for the species. This will give further indirect indication as to likely impact of trade on wild populations. Where the species does not respond to silvicultual techniques, or these are not applied, and where plantations are not developed for the species, further consideration of the need for CITES listing is appropriate.

In general, where a timber species is in international trade, the trade is contributing to the decline in wild populations; if the species is threatened with extinction it can be considered to meet the criteria for CITES listing. The Tree Species Evaluation exercise has highlighted certain timber species which do appear to be clear priorities for inclusion in the CITES Appendices. Such species include Dalbergia spp. of Madagascar, Dalbergia spp. of the Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia region, and some of the heavily exploited species of Papua New Guinea. For many other species the scientific case remains less clearcut. It is accepted that other considerations are likely to be of major importance in any development of the CITES appendices for timber species, not least the perceived value of the Convention in relation to the conservation of timber resources. Further consideration of the preliminary results of the Tree Species Evaluation process by the CITES Plants Committee and range states should help CITES parties to pay particular attention to internationally traded timber species within their territories for which knowledge of biological status and silvicultural requirements indicates concern.

References

Abead Arramibide, M. (1995). Latin America – case study on national forestry statistics in the region. In: Proceedings FAO Group on Forestry Statistics, Rome, 20-24 November 1995. FAO, Rome.

Hawthorne (1995a).

ITTO, 1997. Annual review and assessment of the world tropical timber situation 1996. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO).

IUCN Species Survival Commission (1994) IUCN Red List Categories.

Jenkins, C. (1996) Guidelines for the application of the 1994 IUCN Red List Categories to trees. Annex 5 in: Report of the First Regional Workshop for the WCMC/SSC Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees project.

Lammerts van Bueren, E.M. (1996). In litt. to the CITES Secretariat.

Oldfield, S.F., Lusty, C. and MacKinven, A. (1998). The World List of Threatened Trees. World Conservation Press, Cambridge, UK.

Sandison, M.S. (1995) Application of the CITES-listing criteria to plants. TRAFFIC Bulletin 15(3):122-124.

Varty, N. and Guadagnin, D.L. (1996). Information sources on the biology, conservation and trade of tree species of Brazil. Unpublished consultancy report prepared for WCMC.

WCMC. 1991. Provision of data on rare and threatened tropical timber species.