Samarkand to host major global wildlife summit

The 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will be held in Samarkand from 24 November to 5 December.

According to CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero, around 3,000 delegates from 185 countries are expected to attend. The conference is set to become one of the largest in the history of the Convention and one of the most significant global conservation events of 2025. The 79th and 80th meetings of the CITES Standing Committee will also take place during the event.

“Samarkand will become a hub for everyone involved in wildlife conservation. Here we will discuss how to make international trade more responsible and sustainable. Uzbekistan is demonstrating that green development can become part of a country’s strategic advancement,” said Secretary-General Higuero.

Uzbekistan’s organizers report extensive preparation for the event. More than 110 expert seminars and exhibitions, as well as thematic sessions covering 114 agenda items, have been planned. Nearly 150 draft documents and 51 proposals aimed at updating Convention regulations have also been prepared.

Participants are expected to discuss improving the mechanisms for implementing the Convention, strengthening protection of rare plant and animal species, managing natural resources, and enhancing international cooperation.

About the CITES convention

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a multilateral treaty signed in Washington in 1973 and in force since 1 July 1975. The Convention includes 184 countries and the European Union. Each member state is required to follow the Convention’s rules and regulate the export, import, re-export, and introduction from the sea of listed species. Uzbekistan joined CITES in 1997.