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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WCS at COP20

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Sharks and Rays

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

Documents

WCS Wild Audio

An Opportunity to Protect Sharks and Rays

Sharks and rays are some of the ocean’s most iconic species, but they are in crisis. In Samarkand, Uzbekistan, governments will decide whether or not to give certain shark and ray species the highest level of international trade protections.

Press Releases

At CITES COP20, Governments Face Last Chance to Prevent Extinction of Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, and More

Photo Credit: ©Steve De Neef

“CoP20 is a test of global will,” said WCS’s Luke Warwick. “Species like oceanic whitetip sharks, manta rays, and whale sharks cannot withstand commercial trade. The science is unequivocal, and the tools and support to implement CITES already exist for governments once listings pass.”

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“We need to give species a fighting chance.”

WCS’s Susan Lieberman delivered an urgent call-to-action during the High-Level Dialogue on the eve of the opening of COP20.

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WCS Supports Ecuador’s Proposal to Strengthen Protection for Galápagos Land and Marine Iguanas

“They have survived volcanic eruptions, droughts, and isolation over millennia, but they are now up against threats they cannot withstand alone,” said Sebastian Valdivieso, Country Director for WCS Ecuador.

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Don’t Let Saiga’s Remarkable Recovery Be Undone by Horn Trade

We are urging the Parties at COP20 to oppose Proposal 3, which would lift the zero-export quota for wild saiga from Kazakhstan and allow international commercial trade in saiga horns.

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Endangered Okapi Needs Global Trade Protections, Says WCS

The giraffe's only living relative faces ongoing threats from hunting, illegal trade, and habitat loss.

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WCS Urges Trade Protections of Eels, Which Face Many Threats Including Illegal Trade

We are calling on Parties gathering at COP20 to support Proposal 35, which would list the American eel on CITES Appendix II.

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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

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WCS Calls for Bold Action and New Wildlife Trade Protections at CITES CoP20

“CITES Parties have a critical opportunity at this meeting to choose the future we want for wildlife. We cannot allow short-term commercial interests to reverse conservation successes or threaten recovering species such as the saiga,” said WCS’s Dr. Susan Lieberman.

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PBS Nature Blog Series

Let’s Remember to Protect the “Ugly” Species

As governments from across the globe decide on the future of a broad swath of species subject to international trade, lets spare a thought for the less charismatic, writes WCS's Susan Lieberman.

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A Marathon Swimmer in a Race for Its Life

WCS scientists helped reveal where the American eel begins its life. Now, it’s up to all of us to make sure the journey continues, says WCS's Jake LaBelle.

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