The SCI Foundation International Affairs team was present and active at the recent 78th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC78) held in Geneva from February 3-8, 2025. As a long-time CITES observer, we work with national delegations (i.e., parties) and other observers (i.e., NGOs) to ensure that the benefits of well-regulated international trade in wildlife are recognized and can continue. Anti-use animal rights organizations continue to be active within CITES and we seek to focus on scientific evidence and real-world management issues around trade. Thankfully, there were few agenda items at SC78 that were directly relevant to international hunting or related trade. Their attendance not only underscored their commitment to wildlife conservation but also prepared them for the upcoming CITES COP 20 in Uzbekistan.
This meeting was of particular importance because it is the final official CITES event before the critical Conference of the Parties (CoP) to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in November 2025. Thus, SC78 provides a preview of decisions that will be taken up at the CoP, where they can become binding on the convention. The SCIF team, consisting of Director of Conservation Dr. Chris Comer and International Affairs Manager Dries Van Coller, monitored discussions about issues such as the representation of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in CITES, the role of people’s livelihoods in CITES decisions, elephant management, African big cats, and others. Although things can certainly change, none of the discussions at SC78 indicated radical changes related to these issues at the upcoming CoP. Some interesting decisions include the one not to list the extinct woolly mammoth on the CITES Appendices and the possible adoption of a new taxonomy separating elephants into two distinct species for CITES listing (savannah elephant-Loxodonta africana and forest elephant-Loxodonta cyclotis). There is continued reluctance among many Parties to increase the importance of local communities and livelihoods in CITES.
Among the most important outcomes at CITES meetings are the opportunities to engage and converse with Party delegates about issues important to them going forward. The meeting included special presentations and panel discussions about issues such as IPLCs, trophy import bans, and livelihoods sponsored by like-minded groups in attendance. Dries, in particular, was able to engage with numerous colleagues working on issues related to illegal trade and trafficking in wildlife parts. SCI Foundation collaborated with partners at SCI, the CIC, and others sustainable use organizations to host an evening social event. This event was well-attended and provided a unique opportunity for pro-sustainable use organizations to interact socially in an informal atmosphere. The Secretary-General, Ms. Ivonne Higuero, praised the initiative, emphasizing its importance in fostering collaboration and mutual understanding among stakeholders.
Preparation for CITES COP 20
The knowledge and experience gained at SC78 have better equipped Dr. Comer and Dries van Coller for the upcoming CoP 20, scheduled to be held from November 24 to December 5, 2025. A welcome speech by the Uzbek Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, H.E. Aziz Abdukhakimov, highlighted the importance of early preparation. Our continued presence at CITES events allows the team to keep current on possible issues threatening sustainable hunting and to build long-term relationships with Parties and other CITES decision-makers. Rest assured that SCI Foundation remains actively engaged on these important issues—one way that we remain First for Wildlife.
For detailed information, all the documents and executive summaries are available on the website at www.cites.org.
