Bolivian native plant species covered by CITES: Advances in the implementation of the Convention and implications for forest management and timber trade

Abstract

For effective management of CITES species, it is essential to identify which species are included; what parts, products, and/or derivatives are subject to restrictions and exceptions. This document presents a systematic organization and analysis of information regarding plant species protected by CITES in Bolivia. Data from the Species+ website were compared and supplemented with the Catalog of Vascular Plants of Bolivia and information from the IUCN Red List. In Bolivia, we recorded 1,235 CITES-protected plant species, of which 553 are endemic; 6 species are listed in Appendix I and 1,229 in Appendix II. In total, 1,190 species from the families Cactaceae, Cyatheaceae, Dicksoniaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Orchidaceae, and Zamiaceae possess ornamental attributes or similarities; and 45 species from the families Bignoniaceae, Fabaceae, Meliaceae, Podocarpaceae, and Zygophyllaceae have timber attributes. According to the IUCN Red List, none of the 1,235 CITES species are Critically Endangered (CR), 18 are Endangered (EN), 18 are Vulnerable (VU), 21 are Near Threatened (NT), 151 are Least Concern (LC), 21 are Data Deficient (DD), and 1,006 are Not Evaluated (NE). Bolivia has established a legal and technical framework that supports the procedures for compliance with CITES.