The world’s largest conference on wildlife trade opened last week in Samarkand, drawing nearly 3,000 delegates to Uzbekistan for two weeks of critical negotiations that could reshape global conservation policy. The 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20) is being held in Central Asia for the first time, a region increasingly impacted by transcontinental wildlife trafficking routes connecting Africa and Asia.

Hosted by Uzbekistan’s National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, CoP20 carries the theme “CITES at 50 in Samarkand: Bridging Nature and People,” commemorating five decades of global conservation under the Convention and echoing the city’s legacy as a historic crossroads of commerce and ideas.

One of the central issues dominating this year’s meeting is a series of proposals concerning African megafauna, particularly elephants, rhinos, and giraffes. These proposals, submitted by several African range states, challenge the extent to which legal trade in vulnerable species should be permitted, given decades of poaching and habitat degradation.

Audrey Delsink, Senior Director at Humane World for Animals, warned of the dangers these proposals pose. “All the species proposals concerning African megafauna are highly concerning because of the impact they will have on the respective species and the repercussions on illegal trade should the proposals be accepted,” she told The Times of Central Asia.

Among the most controversial is a joint proposal by Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe to remove most southern African giraffe populations from CITES Appendix II. Delsink cautioned that this would create a fragmented regulatory regime, complicating enforcement. “It is very difficult to differentiate bones and pelts of the different species and subspecies, making it easy to launder endangered giraffe species through the system,” she said. With wild giraffe populations estimated at fewer than 120,000, any weakening of controls could prove disastrous.

Similar concerns surround Namibia’s proposal to sell ivory from registered government stockpiles. Delsink warned that the legal ivory trade has historically masked illicit flows and could trigger renewed poaching. “Legal trade provides a cover for illegal ivory and fuels illegal trade, poaching, and consumer demand,” she said, noting that CITES members have rejected such proposals for nearly two decades.

Central Asian countries, increasingly used as transit corridors for high-value wildlife contraband, are becoming key players in enforcement. Smuggling networks exploit Eurasian air, rail, and road links to move products such as ivory, rhino horn, and exotic animals.

Delsink highlighted the “Samarkand Declaration and Action Plan (2025-2032),” signed this week by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as a major step toward regional coordination. The agreement commits signatories to harmonize laws and improve intelligence-sharing mechanisms.

Image: National Committee on Ecology of Uzbekistan

“Intelligence-led operations and rapid information exchange between agencies can disrupt organized crime networks that exploit porous borders,” Delsink said. She also underscored the need for customs modernization and officer training, supported by organizations such as TRAFFIC and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

Beyond enforcement, Delsink advocated for community-based conservation approaches adapted from African models. These include beehive fences to deter elephants from crop-raiding, chili-based repellents, and local ranger initiatives. “These methods empower local leadership and deliver economic benefits to communities,” she said.

Rhinos remain under intense scrutiny. On November 29, CITES delegates in Samarkand rejected Namibia’s proposals to relax trade protections for Southern white and critically endangered black rhinos, choosing instead to maintain maximum safeguards.

Meanwhile, landmark decisions were reached on marine species. Whale sharks, gulper sharks, manta rays, and devil rays, all affected by severe population declines, received stronger protections.

Whale sharks were uplisted to Appendix I, banning nearly all international commercial trade. Their numbers have plummeted by 92% globally due to overfishing, vessel collisions, and demand for fins and meat. Gulper sharks, valued for their liver oil used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, were added to Appendix II. Manta and devil rays, which reproduce slowly and are heavily targeted for their gill plates and fins, also received Appendix I status.

Lawrence Chlebeck, marine program manager at Humane World for Animals Australia; image: TCA

“These sharks are victims of a veracious trade,” said Lawrence Chlebeck, Marine Program Manager at Humane World for Animals Australia. “The new protections throw them a vital lifeline.”

Chlebeck warned that without these measures, “future oceans without these beautiful animals is sadly an inevitability.” He praised the international coalition backing the proposals, which reflect growing global awareness that many shark and ray species are approaching ecological collapse.

Asked about the role of landlocked countries like Uzbekistan, Chlebeck stressed that non-coastal states play a critical role in enforcement and supply-chain regulation. “They can strengthen import controls and ensure that products derived from sharks and rays originate only from sustainable and legal sources,” he said.

Other items on the CoP20 agenda include proposed loosening of giraffe trade restrictions despite a 40% drop in wild populations over three decades; attempts to reintroduce commercial trade in live elephants and rhino horn; and new protections for critically endangered vultures, Galápagos land iguanas, and gecko species vulnerable to the exotic pet trade.