The CoP meets every two to three years to review the implementation of the Convention. During the two-week conference species are added or removed from Appendix listings. In 2013, three Tillandsia species were removed from CITES.
In the plant world, Madagascar's Grandidier's baobab (Adansonia grandidieri) became the first species of giant trees to be listed under Appendix II, which allows trade, but under stringent regulations. All 300 species of rosewood and palisander trees, which are being devastated by the timber trade, were also listed this year on Appendix II.
Of the four species of Tillandsia remaining on Appendix II, Tillandsia mauryana was accepted for removal from Appendix II. Although this species is limited in population, the majority of them are found only in the Metztitlán Gully Biosphere Reserve in Hidalgo, Mexico. The area's management program contains specific actions for the protection of this species and it was proposed that removal from Appendix II would not stimulate trade in wild collection specimens. The full document can be viewed here.
(Interesting for me to read the document, and notice one of my images, without proper credit. The image of T. atroviridepetala, is my image, actually a slide. Another reason to watermark your images).
It should take ninety days (from Oct. 4) to be finalized, and Tillandsia mauryana will be removed from Appendix II. The three remaining Tillandsia species listed in Appendix II are Tillandsia harrisii, T. kammii and T. xerographica.
For more information about all the decisions visit the CITES CoP 17 website.