What is the reality of wildlife trade volume? CITES Trade Database limitations

Five selected forms (claws, skins, skulls, teeth, and trophies) of American black bear (Ursus americanus) were used to demonstrate how variable the volume of total international trade can be based on different approaches. Records from the comparative tabulations of the CITES Trade Database were presented in three ways: (1) identical data from both the exporter and the importer (4%), (2) traded volume reported by the exporter and importer differed (21%), and (3) traded volume reported either by exporter or importer only (75%). Six types of calculations were used to assess the total trade volume of selected American black bear forms. Proportional deviances of alternatively calculated traded volumes from their respective maxima significantly differed between individual calculations. However, these deviances were consistent between forms. The average difference between maximum and minimum calculated traded volume was 63 ± 23%. The most striking difference was found in trophies, where this difference represented 108,269 trophies in absolute terms. Specific changes to improve the usability of the CITES Trade Database are recommended and include the following: (1) combining the permit number with export and import reports to allow unmistakable identification of the entire trade flow, (2) unambiguous specification of the method of calculating volumes of both gross and net trade tabulations in the database guide, (3) better specification and avoidance of possible confusion of terms (forms), and (4) prohibition of automatically assigning value to empty fields.