Protecting flora and fauna globally and in Central Asia
01.12.2025
In 2025, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) celebrates its 50th anniversary. Established as an agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in species does not threaten their survival, CITES has been among the conservation agreements with the largest membership, with 185 Parties.
Zoï supports the CITES Secretariat in designing and promoting information materials, such as online courses, posters, and videos, to make the public aware of the tools, working areas, and information about the Convention.
Between 24 November and 5 December 2025, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, is hosting the 20th meeting of the Parties to the Convention (CoP20), and Zoï is proud to join the celebrations as part of the CITES community.
Behind the scenes of the Convention, Zoï has engaged directly with the CITES Secretariat to support them in the development of training and promotional materials. Zoï led the process of the development of a new beginner-level e-Learning course for the InforMEA platform, which teaches Parties, relevant authorities, and different stakeholders about what the Convention is and the most important things to know. We also developed a mini-course and guidance document on how to develop an amendment proposal to support Parties ahead of the CoP.
The online course was accompanied by a video, brochure, roll-up banner, and business cards to spread the word at CoP20.
Zoï has also provided further support by hosting a side event in Samarkand to launch the e-Learning material and promote the different InforMEA tools that can be used by Parties. The side event featured high-level speakers and started the process of learning by sharing the new courses and testing attendees’ knowledge.
In parallel, Zoï has prepared, in partnership with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a visual report, posters, and an interactive quiz examining problems and offering recommendations for the sustainable use of the flora and fauna in Central Asia.
The report explores key issues and proposes solutions for the sustainable management of flora and fauna, highlighting the efforts of states and civil society, including initiatives within the CITES framework and red-listed species.
As part of this work, the OSCE supported the engagement of local communities and youth in conservation in the southern regions of Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Thanks to the efforts of local facilitators – Alexandra, Jamila, Merdan, and Sukhrob – an awareness-raising campaign at the local level and lectures at schools and universities reached more than 300 community members, including youth and women.
Whether in global platforms for negotiations or in working closely with local communities, Zoï remains committed to the preservation and management of the Earth’s fragile ecosystems and to the conservation of nature.
You can find related products here and follow us on social media to stay informed about our work in Central Asia and under multilateral environmental agreements, such as CITES.
Featured image: CITES Secretariat. Photo by: Danny Skilton, IISD/ENB
