CITES scientists meet in Geneva to advance coral, big cat conservation
Synopsis
Nearly 500 scientists and government delegates descend on Geneva this week for AC34 — the first major CITES scientific meeting since the landmark CoP20 in Uzbekistan. With over 350 decisions and 76 new species listings to implement before 2028, the stakes for corals, big cats, and deep-water sharks have rarely been higher.
Key Takeaways
The 34th CITES Animals Committee (AC34) meets in Geneva from 13 to 17 July , bringing together nearly 500 participants from 73 governments and 79 observer organisations .
The agenda covers conservation and trade sustainability for corals , sharks and rays , big cats , eels , vultures , and amphibians .
Amir Hamidy of Indonesia's BRIN is set to become the first Asian chair of the CITES Animals Committee.
The committee will action over 350 decisions and 76 species listings agreed at CoP20 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in November 2025 .
All CoP20 commitments must be implemented before the 21st World Wildlife Conference in 2028 .
Global scientific experts convened under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will gather in Geneva from 13 to 17 July for the 34th meeting of the CITES Animals Committee (AC34), tasked with advancing a sweeping new scientific and technical agenda for wildlife trade sustainability. The five-day session follows the 20th World Wildlife Conference (CoP20) held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in November 2025, where nations adopted three Resolutions, over 350 decisions, and 76 species listings.
What AC34 Will Cover
The committee will convene plenary discussions, in-session working groups, and technical deliberations spanning a broad range of fauna — including corals, sharks and rays, eels, big cats, vultures, and amphibians. Experts will assess conservation progress, sustainable management frameworks, and trade impacts on wild populations. To date, 73 governments and 79 observer organisations have registered, with nearly 500 participants expected in total.
New Leadership for the Animals Committee
Amir Hamidy, Director of the CITES Scientific Authority of Indonesia at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), is expected to be confirmed as Chair of the Animals Committee — making him the first representative from the Asia region to lead the body. Under his chairmanship, the committee will also establish several working groups to maintain momentum in implementing CoP20 decisions between AC34 and AC35.
Review of Significant Trade: Key Mechanism
A central item on the agenda is the Review of Significant Trade (RST) — CITES's primary mechanism for ensuring that trade in Appendix II species remains sustainable. The committee will select new species and country combinations for RST review, while assessing progress on combinations identified at earlier meetings. According to reports, encouraging progress has been made since the publication of the new CITES Non-Detriment Findings (NDF) Guidance, with several trade suspension recommendations lifted and cases removed from review.
What the CITES Chief Said
CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero said science brings conservation commitments to life and drives solutions that aim to ensure trade sustainability and species survival. She added that the new intersessional period will not only set the course for evidence-backed implementation of CoP20 outcomes, but also contribute critical advancements toward the CITES Strategic Vision 2021–2030, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Broader Context
For over 50 years, CITES has relied on scientific expertise to bridge policy decisions and their real-world implementation — from assessing impacts on wild populations to identifying capacity-building priorities. The outcomes of AC34 will feed directly into preparations for the 21st World Wildlife Conference, due to take place in 2028. All CoP20 commitments must be implemented before that deadline, making the Geneva session a critical waypoint in the global biodiversity calendar.
Point of View
But the real test is whether the RST mechanism can keep pace with the volume of new mandates. With the 2028 conference as the hard deadline, the Geneva meeting is less a deliberative exercise and more a triage operation for a convention under growing implementation pressure.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CITES Animals Committee AC34 meeting in Geneva?
AC34 is the 34th meeting of the CITES Animals Committee, convening in Geneva from 13 to 17 July to advance the scientific and technical agenda agreed at CoP20 in Samarkand in November 2025. Nearly 500 experts from 73 governments will discuss conservation and sustainable trade for species including corals, big cats, sharks, and amphibians.
Why is the AC34 meeting significant for wildlife conservation?
The meeting is the first major CITES scientific gathering since CoP20, where nations adopted over 350 decisions and 76 new species listings. All these commitments must be implemented before the next World Wildlife Conference in 2028, making AC34 a critical step in translating global pledges into on-the-ground action.
Who will chair the CITES Animals Committee at AC34?
Amir Hamidy, Director of the CITES Scientific Authority of Indonesia at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), is expected to be confirmed as Chair — the first representative from the Asia region to lead the Animals Committee.
What is the Review of Significant Trade and why does it matter?
The Review of Significant Trade (RST) is CITES's primary mechanism for ensuring that commercial trade in Appendix II species does not harm wild populations. At AC34, the committee will select new species-country combinations for RST review and assess progress on earlier cases, with several trade suspension recommendations already lifted following new Non-Detriment Findings guidance.
Which species are on the agenda at the Geneva CITES meeting?
The AC34 agenda includes corals, sharks and rays, eels, big cats, vultures, and amphibians, among other fauna. Discussions will cover conservation progress, sustainable management, and the impacts of international trade on wild populations of these species.
