On 1 July 2025, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) commemorated its fiftieth anniversary of its entry into force. As one of the earliest Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs), reaching its 50th anniversary is a significant milestone for this treaty.
It is a practical Convention, involving the listing of individual species, regulation of trade transactions, and enforcement of compliance measures. Consequently, many see CITES as a Convention with tangible, real-world effects that is effectively enforceable.
For five decades, CITES has stood out in setting the agenda on issues such as compliance, the involvement of observers, and voting. It is a robust Convention that effectively controls international wildlife trade and plays a crucial role in global biodiversity conservation.
The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), recently celebrating its 95th anniversary, takes great pride in marking this milestone, recognising its long-standing and active involvement in supporting CITES principles of sustainable use, legality, and science-based wildlife management.
A Shared Vision for Sustainability
Since the inception of CITES, the CIC has actively participated in establishing the Convention and supported its mission to regulate and monitor international wildlife trade, ensuring the sustainable use and conservation of species across the globe. As an official Inter-Governmental Observer Organisation to CITES, the CIC has consistently provided expertise, scientific advice, and advocacy, underpinned by a deep understanding of the intricate balance between conservation, livelihoods, and regulated hunting.
Throughout these years, the CIC has played a crucial role in bridging the gap between policymakers, scientists, conservationists, and the hunting community, demonstrating through practical examples and policy dialogue. Sustainable use, including regulated hunting, is integral to successful conservation outcomes.
CIC’s Role in Global Conservation Diplomacy
Our relationship with CITES has been a testament to the CIC’s commitment to international cooperation and diplomacy. The CIC Policy and Law Division has been deeply involved in providing strategic input to numerous CITES conferences, contributing expertise on Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs), community-based conservation, wildlife crime prevention, and trade regulation. The CIC’s extensive engagement, from addressing sustainable trade in iconic species such as elephants and rhinoceros to advocating for conservation through sustainable use of wildlife such as argali, markhor, and various African antelope species, underscores our shared responsibility for biodiversity conservation.
The CIC’s participation at the recent 33rd Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee (2024) and the Standing Committee (2025), including hosting side events and actively engaging in discussions, further highlights our ongoing dedication and proactive role within CITES. This collaboration has strengthened efforts to achieve balanced, scientifically robust solutions that advance both conservation goals and sustainable livelihoods.
Achievements and Challenges
Over the past 50 years, we have seen many significant milestones, such as the recovery of numerous species through sustainable trade practices regulated by CITES. Notable successes include improvements in the populations of the markhor, black rhino, and southern white rhino, species supported by well-regulated hunting and community-driven conservation initiatives. These achievements affirm the critical role sustainable use can play in global biodiversity conservation.
Nonetheless, challenges remain. The CITES agenda has grown exponentially, and the resources available to Parties and the Secretariat are dwindling. As Ivonne Higuero, Secretary-General of CITES, has aptly noted, today’s realities, such as intensified wildlife trafficking, climate change impacts, and increasingly complex conservation scenarios, require renewed efforts and stronger cooperation than ever before. The CIC continues to address these challenges through research, advocacy, and practical engagement, promoting the positive outcomes of sustainable use in international wildlife policy discussions. Turning 50 should also provide an opportunity to reflect and explore how to address these growing challenges and how to streamline by remaining focused.
Looking Ahead to Samarkand 2025
The upcoming 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, represents a pivotal moment for the future of international wildlife conservation. The CIC looks forward to actively participating in this critical meeting, working alongside CITES Parties and stakeholders to ensure that international trade policies continue to support robust biodiversity conservation outcomes that benefit both wildlife and people.
As we approach CoP20, the CIC will intensify its efforts to advocate for inclusive policies that recognize the essential role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, sustainable hunting, and science-driven wildlife management. We believe strongly that regulated trade can and must be part of the solution in preserving our planet’s biodiversity for future generations.
A Continued Commitment to Sustainable Use
On this historic 50th anniversary, the CIC reaffirms its unwavering support and congratulates CITES on half a century of impactful conservation achievements. We commend the visionaries, conservationists, and stakeholders who have shaped CITES into the indispensable international conservation instrument it is today.
As we look ahead, the CIC remains committed to continuing our longstanding collaboration with CITES, also through our working together within the broader framework of the Collaborative Partnership for Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW). We strive to ensure that wildlife trade remains a powerful tool for conservation, guided by principles of sustainability, legality, and fairness.
Together, we will continue to shape a world where conservation is sustainable use, and it should remain at the heart of global biodiversity efforts for many more decades to come.
Media Contact:
Tristan Breijer MBA FRGS FRSA MCIJ
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
CIC – International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation
Email: tristan.breijer@cic-wildlife.org
Mobile: +44 781 408 7423
Website: www.cic-wildlife.org