26 February 2013: The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has announced that Lebanon joined the Convention, becoming its 178th member.

Lebanon is home to over 100 CITES-listed species, such as the common jackal, common wolf, red fox, common otter, jungle cat, wild cat, dalmatian pelican, black stork, greater flamingo, Eurasian spoonbill and many birds of prey. Most of the CITES trade with Lebanon concerns live plants, live birds, live tortoises, raw corals, reptile skins and leather products. The Convention will enter into force for Lebanon on 26 May 2013. [CITES News]