SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan (December 3, 2025)—The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) today applauded the decision by Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to transfer both Galápagos marine and land iguanas from Appendix II to Appendix I—the highest level of protection under the treaty.

The vote, taken during the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, recognizes the mounting pressures these iconic species face and will effectively ban international commercial trade in Galápagos iguanas.

Ecuador submitted two proposals—Proposal 22 for the marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) and Proposal 23 for the land iguanas (Conolophus spp.)—both of which received strong support from Parties and were adopted on consensus.

“CITES works best when governments act before species are pushed to the brink,” said Dr.Susan Lieberman, WCS Vice President for International Policy. “Today’s decision to uplist the endemic Galápagos iguanas, to Appendix I shows that countries are willing to take precautionary action in the face of increasing threats—from climate change to invasive species to illegal trade. This is exactly the kind of leadership the world needs to safeguard irreplaceable wildlife.”

The Galápagos Islands—one of the world’s most celebrated biodiversity hotspots—are home to unique reptile species found nowhere else. Marine iguanas, the only lizards that forage in the ocean, experience sharp population declines during El Niño events and face risks from pollution, coastal development, and poaching for the illegal pet trade. Land iguanas, including the critically endangered pink land iguana, are threatened by the illegal pet trade, introduced predators, habitat degradation, and fragmented populations.

“Each of these iguanas represents a distinct evolutionary lineage that has survived for millennia in isolation,” said Sebastián Valdivieso, Country Director for WCS Ecuador. “The Parties’ decision to uplist them to Appendix I closes the door on commercial trade and strengthens the legal tools available to conservation partners working to ensure their survival. Ecuador is deeply committed to protecting the natural heritage of the Galápagos, and this decision reinforces that commitment.”

WCS has supported conservation efforts in the Galápagos for decades, working alongside the Government of Ecuador and local partners to address invasive species, bolster law enforcement, expand marine protections, and safeguard threatened reptiles.

With today’s agreement to move these amazing species to Appendix I listings, WCS urges continued international cooperation to address the growing challenges facing the Galápagos and to ensure that CITES remains a powerful tool for preventing extinction of species due to the global pet and hobbyist trade.