CITES Appendix III : An underused tool for international wildlife trade regulation

Abstract

Appendix III of The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) allows any Party to unilaterally extend its domestic species protections internationally without requiring consensus at the Conference of the Parties. Despite this advantage, Appendix III remains marginal, comprising approximately 1.3% of CITES‐listed species. We present the first global synthesis of Appendix III use since 1975, drawing on the complete historical record of listings, delistings, and uplistings. Appendix III is most effective for endemic species where origin is unambiguous and it frequently functions as a staging mechanism toward Appendix II or I, with 96% of uplisting proposals succeeding. Longstanding perceptions of ineffectiveness largely reflect early over‐listing, which has since been corrected. We argue that Appendix III is underused not because it is inherently weak, but because many Parties may be unaware of how effectively it functions when applied under the right conditions, and we outline a framework for strategic deployment.