Delegates to the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) of the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) discussed 114 agenda items, adopted 353 decisions, took part in 46 rounds of voting, and reviewed 50 listing proposals. Seventy-seven new species were added to the Convention’s appendices.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) summary report of the meeting notes that CoP20 took place at a critical moment for biodiversity as wild populations of plants and animals around the world continue to decline. The need “to prevent their overexploitation while considering the human communities most proximate to and dependent on them” is now more urgent than ever, it underscores.

The oceanic whitetip shark, whale shark, and all species of manta and devil rays, several birds and reptiles, a monkey, and a tortoise now enjoy the highest possible protection under Appendix I. “Many more species of flora and fauna were listed on Appendix II, or saw their current listings amended with a zero-export quota annotation, all to ensure that international trade will not impact their survival in the wild,” ENB reports.

At the same time, thanks to effective conservation measures by range states, delegates relaxed CITES protections for some species. For example, trade was reopened (under strictly limited circumstances) for the Kazakhstan population of saiga antelope, and the bontebok – a species of antelope endemic to South Africa – was deleted from Appendix II. The Guadalupe fur seal and Parlatore’s podocarp were downlisted from Appendix I to Appendix II due to improved conservation status – a reflection of the possibility for “second chances,” according to the ENB analysis of the meeting.

In addition, parties recognized two different species of African elephants, decided on stronger labeling requirements for caviar, advanced on developing tree species information systems, and, through two new resolutions, agreed to enhance cooperation on the conservation of jaguars and eels.

Discussions also revolved around the need for more capacity to respond to the growing workload before the Convention and the Secretariat.

In closing remarks, delegates emphasized that “collaboration should not only happen at multilateral negotiations, but also beyond the conference center.” Calls were made for “more knowledge-sharing on anti-trafficking technologies, more investments on the ground to enhance protections for CITES-listed species, and the need to strike a balance between conservation and development.”

CoP20 convened in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 24 November to 5 December 2025. [ENB Coverage of CITES CoP20]