WWF AND CITES COP20

You can find WWF’s COP20 CITES positions document at the bottom of this page for download.

This document outlines our perspectives on the key agenda items being discussed at CITES COP20, which takes place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from November 24 to December 5, 2025.  

 UNDERSTANDING CITES

CITES, which stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, is a global agreement to regulate or ban international trade in species under threat.  

CITES was created in 1973, when 80 governments came together to address the impact of international wildlife trade on species survival. Today it has 185 member governments (‘Parties’), making it the world’s largest wildlife conservation agreement. CITES regulations have been instrumental in preventing extinctions and supporting the recovery of many populations. Parties meet every three years at a Conference of the Parties (COP) to review progress, tackle challenges such as enforcement, and update the lists of protected species.  

CITES regulates international trade in wildlife through three Appendices, each offering a different level of protection. Appendix I includes around 1,100 of the world’s most endangered species, for which international commercial trade in animals or plants taken from the wild is prohibited. Appendix II covers over 39,000 species where trade is permitted, provided specimens are legally and sustainably sourced. Appendix III contains more than 500 species that individual countries have listed in order to seek the assistance of other CITES Parties in regulating trade from their jurisdictions.

HOW WWF ENGAGES WITH CITES​

WWF does not vote in CITES — only governments do. We have engaged since its inception by contributing our expertise and perspectives, grounded in the latest science and knowledge, to support CITES in its role as an effective safeguard for species’ survival.  

As CITES spans much of the wildlife, ecosystems, and priority places that WWF works, WWF seeks to ensure its processes reinforce conservation outcomes that secure lasting benefits for people and nature. Beyond CITES meetings, WWF works globally to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. We also support robust protections that uphold the sustainability of all species in the wild, and scientific research to ensure that any legal hunting and collection from the wild is does not threaten species’ survival.