SEO Riders:
- – “CITES at 50 in Samarkand: Bridging Nature and People” unveiled as COP20 theme
- – Slogan honors convention’s 50-year legacy and Samarkand’s cultural significance
- – Uzbek Minister underscores conservation as a shared journey for people and nature
- With fewer than 100 days remaining until the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to CITES, Uzbekistan unveiled the official slogan on 20 August 2025: “CITES at 50 in Samarkand: Bridging Nature and People.” The phrase marks a milestone—the 50th anniversary of the convention—and reflects the deep symbolism of Samarkand as a historic meeting point of cultures and conservation efforts.
At the unveiling, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, **Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, explained the slogan’s meaning: “This is more than a slogan. It encapsulates our vision for the future—where conservation is not seen as separate from people, but as a shared path forward.”
Welcoming the announcement, CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero praised the slogan as a powerful reflection of the Convention’s 50-year legacy—tying together people, wildlife, science, and policy into a collaborative vision for the future. CoP20 is scheduled to take place in Samarkand from 24 November to 5 December 2025, bringing together thousands of delegates to shape global directives on sustainable and traceable wildlife trade.
