Editing CITES (section)

{{short description|Multilateral treaty dedicated to flora and fauna}}
{{About|the international treaty|reference to a source|Citation|other uses|CITE (disambiguation){{!}}CITE}}
{{redirect|Washington Convention|international arbitration institution|International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox Treaty
| name = CITES
| long_name = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
| image = CITES_logo.jpg
| image_size = 120px
| caption = 
| type = 
| date_drafted = 
| date_signed = {{Start date|1973|03|03|df=yes}}
| location_signed = [[Geneva]], Switzerland
| date_sealed = 
| date_effective = 1 July 1975
| condition_effective = 10 ratifications
| date_expiration = 
| signatories = 
| parties = 185
| depositor = Government of the [[Swiss Confederation]]
| language = * [[English language|English]]
* [[French language|French]]
* [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| wikisource = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
}}

'''CITES''' (shorter [[acronym]] for the '''Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora''', also known as the '''Washington Convention''') is a [[multilateral treaty]] to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade. It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] (IUCN). The convention was opened for signature in 1973 and CITES entered into force on 1 July 1975.

Its aim is to ensure that international trade (import/export) in specimens of animals and plants included under CITES does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild. This is achieved via a system of permits and certificates. CITES affords varying degrees of protection to more than 40,900 [[species]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The CITES species {{!}} CITES |url=https://cites.org/eng/disc/species.php |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=cites.org}}</ref>

{{as of|2024|December}}, the Secretary-General of CITES is [[Ivonne Higuero]].<ref name="higuero">{{cite web|url=https://www.cites.org/eng/news/ivonne-higuero-named-as-new-cites-secretary-general_16102018|title=Ivonne Higuero named as new CITES Secretary-General|work=cites.org|publisher=CITES|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref>