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Explore CITES trade data with National Geographic

An interactive online infographic created by National Geographic now allows you to explore which protected animal species are traded internationally and the reasons for their trade. Using data from the CITES Trade Database, which is managed by UNEP-WCMC on behalf of the CITES Secretariat, the infographic also reveals which countries are the biggest exporters and importers of animals that are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The open-access CITES Trade Database contains more than 15 million trade records for species listed in the CITES Appendices. Countries that are Party to CITES submit annual reports that provide details of trade they have permitted. Each record details one permitted shipment (import, export or re-export) of live or dead specimens, their parts, or products derived from each species. Around 27 million animal items were traded in 2013, and the National Geographic infographic provides a snapshot into the commodities most commonly in trade for each animal group, such as mammals, birds and reptiles.

Trade notes accompany the data featured in the infographic to help explain why a species is traded and the threats they face. For example, the infographic shows that the majority of corals are traded in live form, primarily for use in aquariums, and lists climate change, disease and pollution as some of the threats facing corals.

To assess the sustainability of international wildlife trade, UNEP-WCMC analyses the data in the CITES Trade Database and prepares reports that provide decision makers with information they can use to make informed choices related to wildlife trade. The analyses can highlight changes in trading patterns and inform recommendations on which species should be assessed further to evaluate the sustainability of their trade.

In addition to the online data visualization, the July issue of National Geographic Magazine features an infographic of CITES trade data, with information based on ‘CITES Trade: Recent trends in international trade in Appendix II-listed species (1996-2010), a report produced by UNEP-WCMC on behalf of the CITES Secretariat.

Explore the infographic at the National Geographic website

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