Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From 24 November to 5 December 2025, the historic city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan will host 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).

The agreement to host the event was signed by Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov, and CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero, during the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) held in Cali, Colombia.

The signing of the host country agreement at CBD COP16 underscored the importance of international cooperation in combating biodiversity loss and illegal wildlife trade.

Abdukhakimov stated, “We are delighted to welcome the international community to Samarkand for COP20 in 2025, where we will join forces to protect the planet’s rich biological heritage.”

CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero thanked Uzbekistan for offering to host the event in Samarkand, highlighting how this historic city will blend cultural heritage with a forward-looking vision. According to her, COP20 will be a pivotal step toward regulating international wildlife trade, reducing wildlife-related crimes, and ensuring the survival of species listed under CITES.

Uzbekistan will become the first Central Asian country to host the meeting of 184 CITES member states (183 countries and the European Union) and a wide range of stakeholders in wildlife conservation and trade.

The global event, aligned with Uzbekistan’s designation of 2025 as the "Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy," is expected to attract over 4,000 participants and delegates.

COP20 will provide CITES Parties with a platform to discuss critical issues such as sustainability, legality, and traceability in international wildlife trade, species conservation, and the sustainable management of natural resources. The milestone meeting coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Convention, which came into effect in 1975.

The CITES Convention was signed on March 3, 1973, and came into force on July 1, 1975. It remains one of the most effective international tools for wildlife conservation, regulating trade in over 40,900 species of wild animals and plants. Rich in species included in the CITES listings, Uzbekistan joined the Convention in 1997.