Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The functions of CITES include assisting with communication and monitoring the implementation of the Convention to ensure that its provisions are respected; undertaking, under agreed programmes, occasional scientific and technical studies into issues affecting the implementation of the Convention; making recommendations regarding the implementation of the Convention, etc.