NEW YORK, NY, July 18, 2025—The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has announced key priorities for protection at the 20^th Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, to take place this fall from Nov 25-Dec 5 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan—the first CITES Conference of the Parties to be held in Central Asia.

WCS will be supporting a range of proposals from governments to protect threatened and endangered species that include the okapi, all species of African hornbill, all species of Galapagos iguana, the hinged-back tortoise, and all eel species, as well as a large number of sharks and rays. At the same time, WCS will oppose amendments affecting savannah elephants that would allow for a reopening of international ivory trade from stockpiles—despite a current CITES ban on all international trade, and bans on ivory sales in the US, European Union, UK, China, and others—and saiga, for which Kazakhstan would like to carve out an exception for trade in their horns (which is currently prohibited).

The okapi, Galapagos iguanas, and hinge-backed tortoise are proposed for CITES Appendix I, which provides the highest level of protection and strictly prohibits the international commercial trade in live animals or their parts. Appendix I listings will help close enforcement gaps and help governments and communities to make sure these species are safe from overexploitation and trade.

Two additional proposals seek CITES Appendix II protections for all species of African hornbills and all eel species. Appendix II protection requires that trade only be allowed if it is legal and sustainable. In addition are 7 proposals that would protect more than 70 shark and ray species.

Susan Lieberman, WCS VP for International Policy, said, “This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the entry into force of the CITES Convention, and personally my 14^th CoP. CITES may not be perfect—and governments in the Global South need more financial and technical support to more effectively implement the Convention’s requirements—but without CITES, countless species would have disappeared due to the ravages of international wildlife trade. My WCS colleagues and I look forward to CoP20, and the coming together in the historic city of Samarkand of the global CITES community for the conservation of our collective, precious wildlife heritage.”

Added WCS VP for Species Conservation Elizabeth Bennett, “Uncontrolled wildlife trade is one of the greatest threats to enormous numbers of species across the globe, including invertebrates and fish, reptiles and amphibians, songbirds, primates, small and big cats, and so many more. CITES is a critical tool for addressing such trade, and CoP20 provides an invaluable opportunity for expanding species’ protections against unsustainable trade, thereby helping to ensure their conservation.”

WCS praises the leadership of the Governments that are leading on these proposals, and WCS will work with them and with partners around the world to ensure the adoption of these proposals at the CITES CoP20 meeting in Uzbekistan.

CITES is not only about listing species on its Appendices; there will be extensive discussions related to implementation of the Convention and combatting wildlife trafficking; the risk of pathogen spillover from wildlife trade; compliance; enforcement; and illegal trade in elephants, rhinos, pangolins, and big cats. These other documents have not yet been posted; WCS will follow these closely and will issue a policy briefing on multiple issues and work with our government partners.

CITES is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that the international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. It regulates or bans international trade in species listed in its Appendices based on the level of threat posed by such trade to their conservation in the wild. 

# # #