Uzbekistan has been selected to host the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20).
The event is scheduled to take place in 2025 in the historic city of Samarkand, following the signing of a Host Country Agreement by the government of Uzbekistan and the CITES Secretariat on October 29, 2024, during the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD CoP16) in Cali, Colombia. This milestone stresses the growing importance of biodiversity conservation on a global scale and Uzbekistan's commitment to protecting endangered species.
Aziz Abdukhakimov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, formalized the agreement on behalf of the Uzbek government. The signing ceremony included CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero and Juan Carlos Navarro, the Minister of Environment of Panama, host of CITES CoP19 in 2022.
Minister Abdukhakimov highlighted the significance of international collaboration in combating biodiversity loss, stating, "We are excited to welcome the international community to Samarkand for CoP20 in 2025, where we will unite our efforts in safeguarding our planet's rich biological heritage."
Minister Navarro, passing the hosting responsibility from Panama to Uzbekistan, expressed confidence in Uzbekistan’s ability to uphold the event’s high standards.
"This meeting ensures CITES decision-making is scientifically based and impacts our economies and societies,” Navarro said, praising the importance of CITES’ regulatory role in wildlife conservation.
CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero commended Uzbekistan’s choice to host the conference in Samarkand, highlighting that it combines historical significance with a forward-looking vision of regulated wildlife trade and reduced wildlife crime.
Uzbekistan, a CITES member since 1997, is home to several species protected under the Convention, such as the snow leopard, saiga antelope, and various medicinal plants. Hosting the conference signals Uzbekistan’s dedication to wildlife conservation and international cooperation in regulating trade in endangered species.
CITES CoP20 will bring together representatives from 184 member states, as well as key stakeholders from the conservation, trade, and policy sectors. This conference will provide a forum for discussions on sustainability, legality, and traceability in wildlife trade, as well as species conservation and sustainable resource management. Key agenda items include:
- Reviewing progress in the conservation of species listed in the CITES Appendices.
- Considering proposals to amend species classifications in Appendices I and II.
- Evaluating reports and documents from CITES members and committees.
- Recommending strategies to enhance the Convention’s effectiveness.
- Approving budgetary provisions to ensure the Secretariat’s operations.
The 2025 gathering also holds special significance as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of CITES, marking half a century of international collaboration in protecting endangered species and regulating wildlife trade.
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