17 October 2025, Apia Samoa - Pacific delegates, who spent a week in Samoa combing through the details of the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) COP20 agenda, have been encouraged to make sure their Voice is heard loud and clear in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 24 November – 5 December 2025.
At the conclusion of the Oceania Regional Preparatory Meeting for the CITES COP20 from 14-17 October 2025, the delegates are returning home with a better understanding of the local, regional and global implications of the agenda items and proposals to be discussed.
SPREP Members attending the meeting were Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
SPREP Officer in Charge, Mr Anthony Talouli, who is also the Director of Waste Management and Pollution Control (WMPC), congratulated the countries for their active engagement throughout the week.
“I am convinced that this meeting was an excellent opportunity for all participants to learn, to strengthen networks, and to coordinate views and actions before and during COP20,” said Mr Talouli.
“I also hope that it will have an additional, longer lasting effect of strengthening networks between all of our institutions in the region, and of facilitating further work during the upcoming intersessional period after COP20.
The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is the largest and most influential meeting of its kind, where member countries meet to discuss and negotiate international wildlife trade regulations to ensure it does not threaten the survival of species.
The upcoming gathering in Uzbekistan has been described as “one of the most important conservation meetings on the planet”, with critical decisions on the list of wild species protected from unsustainable exploitation through international trade.
Ms Sarah Bagnall, Advisor with the New Zealand CITES Management Authority and Oceania Standing Committee Representative, thanked SPREP and acknowledged all the delegates for their active participation throughout the week.
“We have had valuable discussions on many items of particular significance to Oceania including the listing proposals for eels, sharks, reptiles and sea cucumbers, and agenda items on engaging with indigenous people and legal acquisition associated with trade in Oceania’s endemic species,” said Ms Bagnall.
“It is time now to gather all your information and to develop your party positions before we reconnect in Uzbekistan where we can identify where we want to join our voices for a stronger message.
“A challenge for everyone who will attend the COP is to be prepared to make an intervention, join a working group and be heard. Use the pre-COP as a step towards that goal. We are looking forward to meeting again in Uzbekistan safe travels everyone.”
SPREP acknowledges the support of the EU-funded ACP MEA III and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand.
The Oceania Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Twentieth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is held in Samoa from 14-17 October 2025.
SPREP Members attending are Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The Meeting is coordinated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Programme (SPREP) in partnership with the CITES Secretariat, New Zealand and Australian CITES officials funded through the ACP MEA Phase 3 Project funded by the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States for the ACP countries.
Pacific Islands Parties to CITES are Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.