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Uzbekistan to host ‘CITES’ CoP20 in historic city of Samarkand in 2025

November 1, 2024 • 2 min read

November 1, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) have signed an agreement, formalizing Uzbekistan’s offer to host the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CITES CoP20) in the historic city of Samarkand in 2025.

This significant development took place on October 29, 2024, at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD CoP16) in Cali, Colombia, highlighting the interconnectedness of global efforts to conserve the planet’s biodiversity.

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov, signed the Host Country Agreement, expressing his excitement to welcome the international community to Samarkand.

He said, “Signing the Host Country Agreement during CBD CoP16 emphasizes the importance of collaboration in tackling biodiversity loss and illegal wildlife trade”

CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero also expressed gratitude to Uzbekistan for hosting CITES CoP20, emphasizing the significance of regulating international trade in wild species and combating wildlife crime.

The 2025 gathering will bring together 184 Parties to CITES and various wildlife conservation and trade stakeholders. As a CITES Party since 1997, Uzbekistan is home to numerous species listed in the CITES Appendices, including the snow leopard and saiga antelope.

CITES CoP20 will provide a platform for vital discussions on sustainability, legality, and traceability of international wildlife trade, species conservation, and sustainable resource management. The conference will review progress in species conservation, consider proposals to amend species lists, and recommend measures to improve the effectiveness of the Convention.

Notably, the 2025 gathering will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Convention’s entry into force in 1975, marking a significant milestone in international cooperation for wildlife conservation.