UN issues stamps celebrating endemic species listed in the CITES Appendices

The 2021 batch of UN Stamps highlight 12 CITES species that only occur in specific ranges.

Geneva/New York/Vienna, 7 April 2021 –The 28th edition of UN Endangered Species Stamps series was launched today.

The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) produced 12 stamps highlighting species of wild fauna and flora that only occur in unique and limited geographical regions.

Created by Cuban American artist Juan Carlos Alonso, the 2021 stamps showcase 12 species, including six mammals, three plants, two birds and one reptile, all exclusively found in specific ranges.

The species in the stamps are the following:

The Waigeo cuscús (Spilocuscus papuensis, CITES Appendix II), endemic to the island of Waigeo in Indonesia.
The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis, CITES Appendix II) native to the Southeastern United States.
The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula, CITES Appendix II) endemic to subtropical wetlands on the East Coast of the United States.
The ‘helmeted’ honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix, CITES Appendix II), a bird endemic to eastern Australia.
The golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas, CITES Appendix I), a New World Monkey endemic to Brazil.
The bilby (Macrotis lagotis, CITES Appendix I), a ground-dwelling marsupial endemic to Australia.
The ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta, CITES Appendix I), a primate endemic to the island of Madagascar.
The grand spider orchid (Caladenia huegelii, CITES Appendix II), an orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.
The orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster, CITES Appendix I) a ground-dwelling parrot endemic to southern Australia.
The Buru babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa, CITES Appendix I), a wild boar-like mammal that can be found the Indonesian islands of Buru, Mangole and Taliabu.
The telipogon-Like lepanthes (Lepanthes telipogoniflora, CITES Appendix II), an orchid that is endemic to Colombia.
The bridled nail-tailed wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata, CITES Appendix I), a wallaby that can be found in the Australian state of Queensland.

CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero, said: “We thank the United Nations Postal Administration for once again helping us highlight these unique species of the CITES Appendices. These stamps will greatly help us raise awareness of the challenges that lie in conserving endemic species around the world, and in ensuring that trade in these species is legal, traceable and sustainable so they will continue to survive in the wild.”

Thanawat Amnajanan, Chief of the United Nations Postal Administration said: “The United Nations Endangered Species stamp series is very popular and highly sought after by collectors. We are very honored to work closely with CITES and talented artists to illustrate and highlight these unique but endangered species on United Nations stamps each year. We hope that the world will increase conservation efforts to protect these beautiful plants and animals so that future generations can continue to appreciate them.”

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For more information, contact:

CITES Secretariat: Francisco Pérez, [email protected]

Thanawat Amnajanan, Chief, UN Postal Administration: [email protected]

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About CITES:
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed on 3 March 1973 and entered into force on 1 July 1975. With 183 Parties (182 countries + the European Union), it remains one of the world's most powerful tools for wildlife conservation through the regulation of international trade in over 38,000 species of wild animals and plants. CITES-listed species are used by people around the world in their daily lives for food, health care, furniture, housing, tourist souvenirs, cosmetics or fashion. CITES seeks to ensure that international trade in such species is sustainable, legal and traceable and contributes to both the livelihoods of the communities that live closest to them and to national economies for a healthy planet and the prosperity of the people in support of UN Sustainable Development Goals.

About the UNPA
Since 1951, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) has been issuing stamps to promote the works of the Organization. The United Nations is unique as it is the only organization in the world, which is neither a country nor a territory that is permitted to issue postage stamps. In addition, it is also the only postal authority that issues stamps in three different currencies. The stamps are issued in United States dollars at UN Headquarters in New York, Swiss Francs at the UN office at Geneva, and Euros at the UN office at Vienna on a variety of themes and topics. They are created by artists from around the world and they are printed by the finest Security Printers. UN stamps are available for purchase at the UNPA offices by mail, telephone and through the UNPA website at www.unstamps.org. The stamps can be used to mail postcards and letters globally if sent from the UN Headquarters in New York, Geneva or Vienna, respectively. Follow UNPA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.