From 24 November to 5 December 2025, the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, is hosting the milestone 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20). This environmental global platform brings together countries from around the world to discuss biodiversity conservation, regulation of trade in rare species, improvement of environmental legislation, and the strengthening of international cooperation.
Delegations from over 160 countries, along with representatives of international organizations, research institutions, environmental bodies, and international financial institutions, have gathered in Samarkand. Hosting CoP20 in Uzbekistan marks an important international event and highlights the country’s growing role in global nature conservation efforts.
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· The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) Country Office in Uzbekistan took part in CoP20, using the conference platform to strengthen cooperation with key national and international partners.
The country office delegation included:
· Nodirbek Raximjonov — Director of the CAREC Country Office in Uzbekistan;
· Barno Bakhramova — Accountant of the office;
· Davron Shukurullaev — PR Specialist of the office.
During the conference, representatives of the country office held a number of working meetings with officials from various ministries and agencies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as with international organizations and professional institutions.
These meetings included:
· presentation of CAREC’s mission, role, and ongoing areas of work, including projects on climate change, water resource management, sustainable natural resource governance, green development, and engagement with civil society
· introductory and coordination discussions aimed at aligning future plans and identifying opportunities for cooperation
· exploration of potential areas for new joint initiatives and expansion of national partners’ involvement in CAREC’s regional programmes
· offering interested institutions opportunities for participation in future projects, experience-sharing, and inclusion in cross-country initiatives led by CAREC in Central Asia
For the CAREC Country Office in Uzbekistan, participation in CoP20 provided an opportunity to:
· strengthen existing partnerships and expand its professional network
· enhance the visibility of CAREC’s ongoing projects in the country and across the region
· showcase the organization’s contribution to national reforms, international initiatives, and sustainable development processes
· propose new formats of collaboration, including joint events, exchange of analytical materials, and participation in regional dialogue platforms
The CAREC Country Office in Uzbekistan expresses gratitude to the conference organizers and all partners who showed interest in cooperation. Participation in events of such scale allows CAREC to further strengthen its role as a leading Regional Environmental Knowledge Hub in Central Asia.
Additional Information:
Nodirbek Raximjonov Director of the CAREC Country Office in Uzbekistan, uzbekistan@carececo.org