CoP17 Prop. 25. [Guatemala] A) Inclusion of the following species of the genus Abronia in Appendix I: Abronia anzuetoi, A. campbelli, A.
fimbriata, A. frosti and A. meledona B) Inclusion of the following species of the genusAbronia in Appendix II: Abroniaaurita, A. gaiophantasma,
A. montecristoi, A. salvadorensis and A. vasconcelosii. An annotation is also proposed: a) for zero quota for wild specimens, and b) zero quota for
captive bred specimens from non-range States. This annotation would allow for captive-bred exports from range States.
CoP17 Prop. 26. [Mexico and European Union] All Abronia species (crocodile skinks) Proposal: Inclusion of all species of Alligator Lizards in thegenus Abronia in Appendix II
Both these two proposals address Abronia species and are examined in combination.
Trade levels for Abronia species have reportedly increased since the 1990s. Population declines are documented across the genus; a number of species
are assessed as highly vulnerable to exploitation with even low levels of offtake potentially detrimental. Although not all species proposed are yet
recorded in trade, the high prices and increasing numbers being traded, coupled with documented population declines, justify an Appendix II listingfor the whole genus (Prop. 26). There is no authorized collection for trade or export of Abronia species native to El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.
In Mexico, trade is regulated for most species. Despite this, a level of unrecorded, unreported and/or illegal trade is taking place.
Of the five species proposed for Appendix I listing, Abronia anzuetoi, A. campbelli and A. frosti, with extremely restricted ranges, clearly meet thebiological criteria for inclusion in Appendix I under Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16). The other two species (A. fimbriata and A. meledona) have more
extensive distributions, although their habitat is reportedly declining. Crucially, it can be difficult to distinguish between some Abronia species sothese species would also meet the criteria as lookalikes under Annex 2b of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16).
An Appendix II listing for the genus should result in improved monitoring and regulation of trade. Furthermore, as the mis- declaration of wildcaught specimens as ranched and captive-bred is a problem for several live herpetological species, including Abronia, an Appendix II listing wouldenable management of international trade should a regulatory mechanism for captive-bred and ranched specimens be adopted.

TRAFFIC Recommendations on the Proposals to amend the CITES appendices at CoP17

Prop. 25 includes a zero quota for wild specimens of the species proposed and a zero quota for captive-bred specimens from non-range States. This
reflects that no legal export for commercial purposes has been permitted for these species and therefore any founding stock of commercial captive
breeding facilities has presumably been imported illegally. However, there is no other example of such a restriction on trade in captive-bred specimens
of Appendix-II listed species in the Appendices. While the zero quota for wild specimens does reflect current regulatory prohibitions in the range
States, a zero quota on captive-bred specimens from non-range States appears to add little conservation value to the CITES Appendix listings.

ACCEPT Abroniaanzuetoi, A. campbelli, A. fimbriata, A. frosti and A. meledona for Appendix I listing (Prop. 25)
ACCEPT the zero quota for wild-caught specimens and REJECT the zero quota on captive-bred specimens from non-range States(Prop. 25)
ACCEPT proposal for all other Abronia species to be listed as a genus in Appendix II (Prop 26), excluding the species proposed forlisting in Appendix I and Appendix II with a zero quota in Prop. 25 if it is accepted.

TRAFFIC Recommendations on the Proposals to amend the CITES appendices at CoP17