Uzbekistan prepares to host CITES COP20 in Samarkand in 2025

Samarkand will welcome thousands of international delegates in late 2025 as Uzbekistan becomes the first Central Asian country to host the 20th Conference of the Parties (COP20) to the CITES Convention.

According to Uzbekistan's Ministry of ecology, enviromental protection and climate change, from November 24 to December 5, 2025, the historic city of Samarkand will host the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This marks the first time a Central Asian nation will host the event, positioning Uzbekistan as a regional leader in global conservation efforts.

The conference will bring together representatives from all 185 CITES parties — 184 countries and the European Union — along with more than 4,000 delegates from around the world. Participants will address key issues related to the sustainability, legality, and traceability of international wildlife trade, as well as species conservation and the sustainable management of natural resources.

COP20 also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the CITES Convention’s entry into force, adding special significance to the 2025 gathering. CITES, which came into force on July 1, 1975, regulates international trade in over 40,900 species of wild animals and plants to ensure their survival in the wild.

Uzbekistan, a CITES party since 1997, has actively contributed to the Convention’s goals and is now preparing to host this milestone event in support of global biodiversity and conservation efforts.

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