Name: Samarkand hosts first CITES summit in Asia for wildlife protection
Uploaded: 2025-11-26T14:55:07.648Z
Duration: 2 min 57 s
Description: Delegates will discuss sustainable use of natural resources, ecosystem restoration, and regional cooperation initiatives.

Delegates will discuss sustainable use of natural resources, ecosystem restoration, and regional cooperation initiatives.

Samarkand

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, is hosting the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the first time the event has been held in Central Asia. Nearly 3,000 participants, including government officials and observers from 157 parties, are attending to discuss measures for wildlife protection and combating illegal trade.

Delegates are reviewing over 120 documents and 350 draft decisions, as well as proposals covering more than 250 species. The conference also saw the signing of the Samarkand Declaration and a regional action plan, with discussions focusing on closing biodiversity financing gaps and strengthening international cooperation for wildlife conservation.

Samarkand hosts first CITES summit in Asia for wildlife protection

The city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan hosts the Global Dialogue for the Future of World's Wildlife. The 20th edition of Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is taking place for the first time in Central Asia. Nearly 3,000 participants, including 860 government officials from 157 parties and 450 observers, have gathered with one shared goal – protecting wildlife and stopping illegal trade. Parties will deliberate on an ambitious agenda, 120 documents, 350 draft decisions and 50 species proposals covering more than 250 species. CITES is international convention regulating trade in endangered species. Uzbekistan joined it in 1997 and today protects more than 100 native species under the Convention, among them the Snow Leopard, the Bukhara Deer and the Wild Tulips. We started preparing for this conference last year. Uzbekistan aims to promote and ensure the recognition of Central Asia in the international arena and the participation of a wide range of responsible representatives. Resources remain a critical challenge. The global biodiversity financing stands at more than €123 billion a year and this amount of money is far short of the €712 billion needed to meet the Common Montreal Biodiversity Framework targets. At the high-level dialogue, countries shared innovative financing tools and regional experiences to close this gap. We are looking at various financing mechanisms together with the government to support the access to global environmental facilities and other funding partners to look at the opportunities for bringing this issue and initiatives at the regional level for five Central Asian countries. Central Asian countries signed the Samarkand Declaration and the Regional Cooperation Action Plan for 2026 to 2032. During the conference, more than 110 side events are taking place. Delegates are examining the role of academic and scientific bodies, customs authorities and enforcement agencies in strengthening control over natural resources and compliance with environmental standards. Here in Samarkand, the negotiations determine how CITES strengthens its response to illegal wildlife trade, tackles financing shortfalls and advances international cooperation. With rising pressures on ecosystems worldwide, the decisions taken here will help shape the future of global wildlife protection. Dilbar Primva, Euronews, Samarkand.

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