The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is an international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade does not threaten the survival of wild animals and plants. Established in 1973, it provides a framework for regulating and monitoring the trade of endangered species through a system of permits and quotas. CITES categorizes species into three appendices based on their level of protection needed. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction, while Appendix II includes those that may become endangered if trade is not regulated. Countries that are parties to CITES work together to enforce these regulations and protect biodiversity globally.