The 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20) will take place from from Nov. 24–Dec. 5 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

WCS is a strong supporter of CITES, and has staff who have attended all meetings of the Conference of the Parties since CoP7 in 1989. We will be represented by many international wildlife and policy experts at CoP20.

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Sharks and Rays

What’s happening at CoP20 to support shark and ray conservation?

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CITES CoP 20 Policy Recommendations (Brief)

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CITES CoP 20 Policy Recommendations

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Press Releases

WCS to Push for Protections for African Hornbills, Okapis, Galapagos Iguanas, and Other Threatened and Endangered Species at CITES CoP20

At the same time, WCS will oppose amendments affecting savannah elephants that would allow for a reopening of international ivory trade from stockpiles—despite a current CITES ban on all international trade, and bans on ivory sales in the US, European Union, UK, China, and others—and saiga, for which Kazakhstan would like to carve out an exception for trade in their horns (which is currently prohibited).

Major Progress and Ongoing Gaps in Global Trade Protections for Sharks and Rays

A new global study co-authored by WCS reveals strong conservation progress in implementing international trade protections for sharks and rays under at a rate and scale that was previously lacking, particularly in biodiverse regions such as the global tropics.

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Coalition of Governments Unites Behind Strict Trade Protections For Sharks and Rays

The proposals reflect what scientists and governments have known for years: For some shark and ray species sustainable trade is not feasible