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SEYMOUR HERALD (Tennessee) 20 December 05 Tenn. turtles receive international protection

The alligator snapping turtle and all species of map turtles are being given international protection, effective June 14, 2006, by their addition to Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today. The listing, which will allow the Service to work with States to regulate exports, marked the first time the U.S. has used Appendix III to protect native species.
The alligator snapping turtle, the largest freshwater turtle in the world, is found in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. The alligator snapping turtle is a species of concern due to several factors including: loss of habitat and collection from the wild for human consumption and for export as pets.
“Working in close partnership with the States, we determined that an Appendix-III listing would allow us to reinforce State protections for these species and provide key trade information to better conserve these vulnerable species,” said Service Director Dale Hall.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
http://www.seymourherald.com/story.php?s=7233