CITES Tree Species Project (CTSP) [English subtitles]

Timber producing, aromatic and medicinal tree species are some of the world's most valuable wildlife commodities in trade. When managed sustainably, they can provide revenue to nations and to its communities - on the other hand, illegal and unsustainable harvesting of these trees can quickly lead to deforestation. Today, various high-value tree species are vulnerable to overexploitation due to their commercial value, and a significant amount of CITES listed tree species is said to be illicitly harvested and traded in various countries, particularly in Africa, Asia and South America.
Forest loss contributes to one-sixth of annual greenhouse gas emissions, making it a major contributor to climate change. Creating robust linkages between sustainable forest management and trade regulatory mechanisms that addresses the prevention of illegal trade in valuable tree species and promotion of legal, sustainable trade is therefore crucial - and it is at the core of the European Union Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Action Plan (EU FLEGT Action Plan), for example, as well as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
This project is aimed to strengthen the linkages between sustainable forest management and the CITES provisions at the national level, to ensure that Parties can better comply with the Convention’s requirements for legal, sustainable trade in tree species of commercial significance, improving forest governance and contributing to reducing deforestation. CITES mechanisms help to verify the legality of their acquisition and ensure sustainable trade of the species, preventing the depletion of biodiversity and protecting ecosystems. Moreover, sustainable forest management practices, supported by robust CITES mechanisms, contribute to the long-term poverty alleviation of local communities depending on forests.