131 Internationally Endangered Species Reclassified... Commercial Trade Completely Banned for 6 Species

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced that it would revise and officially publish a portion of the international list of endangered species on March 5, 2026.

The Ministry explained that this revision reflects the decisions made at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which was held in Samarkand last year, as well as changes to Appendix III requested by each party country since March 2023.

With the revision, a total of 131 species have been newly listed, changed, or removed from the international list of endangered species. Specifically, six species were newly listed in Appendix I, 82 species in Appendix II, and 10 species in Appendix III. These include 90 animal species and eight plant species.

Six species, including the okapi, grosbeak, and Chilean wine palm, have been newly added to Appendix I. As these species are recognized as being at high risk of extinction, international trade for commercial purposes is, in principle, prohibited from this day forward.

A European otter, designated as a natural monument and classified as a first-class endangered wild species, is roaming along Gokgangcheon Stream in Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk Province. Photo by Yonhap News

The 82 species newly listed in Appendix II are those whose management needs have been acknowledged due to increasing international demand for pets, edible, and medicinal purposes. This category includes the striped hyena, Dorcas gazelle, Chilean rose hair tarantula, as well as several shark and ray species. For these species, prior approval from CITES authorities is required for import and export.

Management has also been strengthened for species whose wild populations have been found to be declining. Twenty-three species, including the golden-bellied mangabey, marine iguana, and whale shark, have been upgraded from Appendix II to Appendix I. Conversely, two species, including the Guadalupe fur seal, have been downgraded from Appendix I to II, as their populations have been found to be increasing. Eight species, whose populations have either sufficiently recovered or have been officially confirmed extinct, have been removed from the appendices.

Trade conditions for certain species have also been revised. For example, trade in wild-harvested Brazilwood is now banned due to the destruction of natural habitats, and even finished musical instruments—which previously did not require permission—now require authorization for import and export. On the other hand, saiga antelope horns held by the Kazakhstani government are now permitted for limited export and import.

Kim Kyungseok, Director of Biodiversity at the Ministry of Climate, stated, "This revision reflects decisions from the 20th CITES Conference of the Parties in our national list," adding, "We will manage the export and import of internationally endangered species in accordance with relevant legislation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.