increasing demand, particularly in the south. Environmentalists say 12 to 13 new species have had to be listed on CITES' appendixes in the past two years because of China's food trade. The WWF also cautioned about rising trade in the cockatoo, which is being hunted by hobbyists in China as pets. It also called for a halt in the use of cistanche and agarwood, plants that are used in many Chinese medicines. The agarwood is also highly coveted in the Middle East for its scent and fetches up to HK$16,000 (US$2,050) a tael (37.5 grammes).
