CITES-Wiki Identification Manual

1. Using the CITES Wiki
Identification Manual
Developed by the CITES
GreenCustoms
Knowledge Series No. 14

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Questions to answer
• What is the CITES Wiki Identification
Manual?
• How can I use it to access information on
species identification?
• How can I add or modify its contents?
• What future developments and
improvements are planned?

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The CITES Identification Manual
• The original CITES Identification
Manual was started in 1977
• The first version comprised species
identification sheets in loose-leaf
binders
• Species identification sheets were provided by
CITES Management and Scientific Authorities, or
by experts contracted to prepare sheets

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The CITES Identification Manual
• The CITES Identification Manual has
always been a work in progress
• Approximately 1750 species sheets
for fauna and approximately 170
species sheets for plants have been
created
• These sheets have been converted
into electronic format, and compiled
within a user-modifiable database –
the CITES Wiki Identification Manual

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• The CITES Wiki Identification Manual can be accessed
from the CITES website (www.cites.org)

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• The opening screen looks like this:

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• The opening screen looks like this:
The database is in English, French
and Spanish (though most content
is currently in English)

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• The opening screen looks like this:
Users of the CITES Wiki Identification
Manual do not have to register in
order to view the Manual

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• The opening screen looks like this:
Users who wish to add or edit
information must first register as
Editors, and must login to do so

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• The opening screen looks like this:
To view the content, either
Plants or Animals must first be
selected

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• The screen then changes to allow for species selection
Select first the genus
from the drop-down
menu

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
Selecting the genus
Agapornis from the
drop-down menu

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
Selecting the species
fisheri from the species
drop-down menu
After the genus is
selected, the species
names appear

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
Click on View Sheet to
see the sheet on
Agapornis fisheri

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
You can also search by
common names, for
instance “lovebird”

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
Species names appear,
and you can select from
the drop-down menu

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
Click on View Sheet to see
the sheet on Fisher’s
Lovebird Agapornis fisheri

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
Click on thumbnails to
expand images and maps
Click on CITES Trade
Database for access to
trade data on this species
Click on New Search for
another species

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
Data on names, CITES Appendix
and distribution are directly taken
from the CITES Species Database,
so the information is up-to-date
Information on identification
characteristics is derived from the
original CITES Identification Manual
or from recent submissions by
experts

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• Users can create new sheets or modify existing
identification content
• To do so, the user must register with the CITES
Secretariat through the Identification Manual web page,
and send a request to be an Editor to the Identification
Manual Administrator, at: Stephen.Nash@cites.org
• Once approved, the Editor is able to create new sheets or
modify existing identification content

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• All user edits are reviewed and verified by the Secretariat
before becoming part of the CITES Wiki Identification
Manual database
• All user edits are logged and attributed to the Editor’s
name, and user edits can be reversed if necessary
• All information in the database is under copyright (either
the Secretariat or original submitters); requests to reprint
information or images should be directed to the
Identification Manual Administrator

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• Registration requires filling in personal
information and e-mail contact details and
choosing an entry password

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• The login screen asks for the user name and entry
password
Once logged in as an Editor,
select a species for editing or for
adding new information
Note - only certain sections can be
created or modified
Note – additions and edits must
be reviewed by the Secretariat,
and will not appear immediately

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The CITES Wiki Identification Manual
• Future developments (2010)
– Addition of species keys, general information on
species groups, more illustrations
– Addition of a section on identification of parts and
derivatives
– Adaptation of the Manual to be usable on hand-held
devices (such as BlackBerry, iPhone etc.) using the
device’s own menus and fonts

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Summary
• The CITES Wiki Identification Manual provides
information that can help identify CITES-listed species
• The database is the result of contributions by experts,
and is a work in progress
• Anyone can view the Identification Manual, but persons
wanting to add or modify identification material must
register and request to be an Editor
• All edits and contributions are logged and traceable to the
submitter

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CITES Secretariat
Geneva
www.cites.org