The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is inviting the public to recommend species to be considered candidates for CITES listing at the upcoming meeting of participating nations. CITES Appendices will be amended based on the submissions of member nations with regard to their respective native species.
There are a number of US freshwater turtle species that urgently need CITES protection. The USFWS needs to act now to stop their unsustainable harvest and export. Your letters will make a big difference for these native turtles! Please be sure to mention the following species when you write: --Alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii) --Map turtles (Graptemys spp.) --Soft-shell turtles (Apalone spp.) --Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) --Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) --Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) The deadline for submissions is this Monday, August 15, 2011. Please take a few minutes to let them know just how important the CITES listing is to the future survival of these native freshwater turtles! You can submit your letter electronically, using either the sample letter provided by the Center for Biological Diversity, or a more personal version in your own words. The link to use is http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7511 *CITES II listing does not affect your ability to keep, breed, or sell these turtles within the United States according the laws and regulations set forth by your state or local government. It does allow the federal government to regulate the international trade in these vanishing species by requiring permits for trade and export outside of United States.
