Prunus africana (African Cherry)

Meeting the criteria for high volume trade in a globally threatened species in 2011, once again EU imports of P. africana primarily consisted of wild-sourced bark traded for commercial purposes (635 886 kg). Notable quantities of wild-sourced extract were also imported (122 787 kg, as well as smaller quantities reported by volume and without units).Trade was imported directly from Cameroon (47%), Uganda (28%) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (25%). Imports of bark increased by almost five-fold between 2010 and 2011. P. africana was selected for the CITES Review of Significant Trade process following CoP11 and has been discussed at numerous SRGs including SRG 50 and 59. The SRG formed a positive opinion for specimens from Uganda on 02/12/2008, which was reconfirmed on 23/02/2012, following information provided by Uganda on the scientific basis for increasing its annual export quota in 2011 to 176,179 kg. The SRG formed a negative opinion for specimens from Cameroon on 14/09/2007, which was reconfirmed on 30/11/2009. Trade from Cameroon was reviewed at SRG 55 on 11/03/2011 and a positive opinion was agreed for a quota of 150000 kg for 2010 and 2011, subject to clear identification of origin from the north-west region. The positive opinion, with additional specification of dry bark, was reconfirmed  on 02/12/2011 and again on 23/02/2012, subject to a quota of 150,000 kg dry bark from the north-west region, and a quota of 130,000 of dry bark from Mt. Cameroon, with clear indication of origin. On 11/09/2012 positive opinions were confirmed for a further three quotas, (Adamaoua: quota of 326 680 kg of dry bark; Kilum Ijim plantlife sanctuary: quota of 2 494 of dry bark; North-West region (out of community forests): quota of 25 589 kg of dry bark). A positive opinion for specimens from the Democratic Republic of Congo was agreed in writing on 30/11/2012, subject to an annual quota of 72 000 kg dry bark from Ibathama and Mwenda regions and subject to clear indication of origin in export permit.

2010 Summary for Prunus africana (African Cherry)

Criteria met:  High volume (globally threatened)

Principal trade term to the EU:  bark

Principal source:  wild

Top EU importer:  France

Top Trading Partner:  Uganda

CITES Appendix:  II

IUCN Status:  Vulnerable

EU-reported imports of wild-sourced Prunus africana bark (reported in kg), all purposes, 2001-2010.

EU imports in 2010 primarily consisted of wild-sourced bark traded for commercial purposes (129,600 kg), all of which was imported directly from Uganda by France. Imports of wild-sourced bark reported by weight decreased by 79% between 2009 and 2010.

The SRG formed a positive opinion for specimens from Uganda on 02/12/2008, which was reconfirmed on 23/02/2012, following information provided by Uganda on the scientific basis for increasing its annual export quota in 2011 to 176,179 kg.