People around the world rely on wild species of plants and animals for food, shelter, medicine, furniture, musical instruments, and many other essentials. The global wildlife trade is valued at billions of dollars a year. Given a 73% decline in wildlife populations over the last 50 years, it is more essential than ever that transboundary trade in these species be well-regulated, traceable, sustainable, and beneficial for the communities living closest to wild flora and fauna.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) entered into force in 1975 to ensure that international trade in endangered species doesn’t threaten their long-term survival in the wild. The CITES Standing Committee provides policy guidance concerning the implementation of the Convention and the listing of species, and oversees the management of the Secretariat's budget. It also coordinates and oversees the work of the CITES Plants and Animals Committees, carries out tasks assigned to it by the Conference of the Parties (CoP), and drafts resolutions for consideration by the CoP.
The seventy-eighth meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (CITES SC78) will review the reports of the Plants and Animals Committees July 2024 meetings, where members discussed emerging operational issues; cooperation with other multilateral environmental agreements and international organizations; the transport of live specimens; specimens produced through biotechnology; and the role of CITES in reducing the risk of potential zoonotic disease emergence associated with international wildlife trade.
In addition to these issues, the Standing Committee will consider:
- arrangements for the 20th meeting of the CoP, including a draft provisional agenda and draft work programme;
- the engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities;
- non-detriment findings for specimens of Appendix-II species taken from areas beyond national jurisdiction;
- trade in medicinal and aromatic plants;
- demand reduction to combat illegal trade;
- an assessment of the practicalities of the CoP12 decision that the Convention should apply to fungi; and
- an information system for trade in specimens of CITES-listed tree species.
CITES SC78 will convene from 3-8 February 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. It precedes the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP20) from 24 November – 5 December 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Convention’s entry into force.
The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting are Kate Harris; Nienke Beintema; and Tanya Rosen. The Digital Editor is Mika Schröder, Ph.D. The Editor is Pam Chasek, Ph.D.
View past and future events
Past event
11th Meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (COP11)
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2nd Joint Meeting of the CITES Animals and Plants Committees
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10th Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee and 16th Meeting of the Animals Committee
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18th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee
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12th Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee
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12th Meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (COP12)
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13th Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee
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19th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee
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14th Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee
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20th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee
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13th Meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (COP13)
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15th Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee, Joint Meeting of the Animals and Plants Committees, and 21st Meeting of the Animals Committee
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16th Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee, Joint Meeting of the Animals and Plants Committees, and 22nd Meeting of the Animals Committee
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54th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
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14th Meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP14)
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17th Meeting of the Plants Committee, Joint Meeting of the Animals and Plants Committees, and 23rd Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee
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57th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
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18th Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee
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24th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee
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58th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
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15th Meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP15)
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19th Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee
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25th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee
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61st Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
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26th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee, Joint Meeting of the Animals and Plants Committees, and 20th Meeting of the Plants Committee
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62nd Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
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16th Meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP16)
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65th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
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28th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee
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22nd Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee
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66th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
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17th Meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (COP17)
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29th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee, Joint Meeting of the Animals and Plants Committees, and 23rd Meeting of the Plants Committee
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69th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
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70th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
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18th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP18)
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73rd Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
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74th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
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19th Meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (CITES CoP19)
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77th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
Upcoming event
78th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
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