The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), was signed in 1973 and came into force in 1975. The aim of the treaty is to prevent international trade in listed endangered or threatened animal and plant species and products made from them. A full-time, paid secretariat to administer the treaty was initially funded by the United Nations Environmental Program, but has since been funded by the parties to the treaty. By 2002, 158 nations had become party to CITES, including most of the major wildlife trading nations, making CITES the most widely accepted wildlife conservation agreement in the world. The parties to the treaty meet every two years to evaluate and amend the treaty if necessary.

The species covered by the treaty are listed...