How are species classified under CITES?

CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, classifies species into three appendices based on their level of endangerment. This classification system is designed to provide varying degrees of protection depending on how threatened the species are due to international trade.

The first appendix includes species that are the most endangered and are at risk of extinction, where trade is only permitted in exceptional circumstances. The second appendix comprises species that are not necessarily threatened but may become so without strict regulation of trade. The third appendix includes species that are protected in at least one country, which has requested assistance from other parties to help control trade.

This structured approach allows for targeted conservation efforts that reflect the specific needs of different species, facilitating international cooperation in wildlife trade regulation.

The other classification options, while they might touch on certain aspects of how species are understood in conservation, do not accurately reflect the specific framework established by CITES, which focuses primarily on the risk of extinction rather than habitat, geographic location, or biological characteristics like size and reproductive habits.