Global wildlife summit kicks off in Uzbekistan
By Samuel Ogunsona
The global community is set to gather in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for 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), also known as the World Wildlife Conference.
The conference starts from November 24 and ends December 5.
It brings together thousands of experts from governments, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, private sector entities, and youth networks worldwide.
Irohinodua will be attending the summit later this year.
This milestone event marks the 50th anniversary of CITES, a global wildlife trade agreement that has been instrumental in protecting endangered species for five decades.
The host country, Uzbekistan, has unveiled the official slogan for the landmark event: “CITES at 50 in Samarkand: Bridging Nature and People.”
According to Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, Aziz Abdukhakimov, this slogan represents the country’s vision for a future where conservation is a shared path forward, intertwined with human development. “This is more than just a motto,” Abdukhakimov emphasized.
“It embodies our vision for the future — where conservation is not seen as separate from people, but as a shared path forward.”
CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero welcomed the announcement, highlighting the importance of collaboration and practical action in effective conservation.
“As we mark half a century of international collaboration through CITES, this slogan captures the spirit of CITES and the role it plays in bringing 184 countries and the European Union to promote co-existence between people and wildlife,” Higuero said.
Key discussions will focus on addressing the intensifying pressures on wildlife due to habitat loss, overexploitation, wildlife crime, and the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Uzbekistan’s hosting of CoP20 shows the growing recognition of Central Asia’s vital role in global biodiversity conservation.
Samarkand, with its stunning historical significance and unique wildlife, offers a fitting backdrop for the conference. As the world looks toward November, preparations are accelerating, with proposals for amendments to the CITES Appendices submitted and the CoP20 agenda taking shape.
The conference promises to not only bridge nature and people but also strengthen the Convention’s achievement of its Strategic Vision — for a world where all international wildlife trade is legal and sustainable.
