Welcome to an Introduction to CITES - the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. With support from the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), this learning journey has been designed as an induction course for new members of the Scientific Authority of South Africa. The course explains CITES and, in particular, the role for a Scientific Authority of a Party to the Convention. It also explains how the Scientific Authority is established and operates in South Africa.