NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya is set to defend its long-standing policy of complete bans on rhino horn and elephant ivory trade as the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) opens today, Monday, November 24, 2025, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The high-stakes summit, running until December 5, will see Kenyan delegates confront renewed proposals from other nations to establish limited, regulated markets for these highly controversial wildlife products.

The CITES treaty, which marks its 50th anniversary, regulates the global trade of nearly 38,000 species and serves as the principal international agreement for wildlife protection. For Kenya, the outcomes of CoP20 are pivotal, directly impacting the future of its iconic species, the multi-billion shilling tourism industry they support, and the security operations dedicated to combating poaching.

Clash Over Rhino Horn and Ivory

At the forefront of the agenda are contentious proposals to reopen international trade in elephant ivory and rhino horn. Namibia has put forward a proposal to sell its 4.6-tonne stockpile of rhino horn, arguing the funds are necessary for conservation efforts. This move is expected to be supported by a bloc of Southern African nations that have historically advocated for sustainable use models, including regulated trade, to fund wildlife protection.

Kenya, a leading voice in the 24-member African Elephant Coalition (AEC), maintains an unwavering stance against any form of trade in these products. The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has consistently argued that legalizing trade in rhino horn or ivory, even in a limited capacity, stimulates market demand, complicates law enforcement, and ultimately fuels poaching across the continent. This position is rooted in the devastating poaching crisis of the 1980s, which saw Kenya's elephant population plummet from over 160,000 to just 16,000. Following the 1989 CITES international ivory trade ban, which Kenya championed, its populations have shown significant recovery.

Recent data from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) underscores this conservation success. According to the Economic Survey 2025, Kenya's total rhino population grew by 31% in four years, reaching 2,100 in 2024, up from 1,603 in 2020. The elephant population has also steadily increased to nearly 37,000. Kenyan officials will argue that these gains, achieved through immense investment in anti-poaching and habitat protection, would be jeopardized by reopening trade.

Marine and Giraffe Protections Also on the Table

Beyond the debates on megafauna, CoP20 will address critical issues concerning marine and other terrestrial species relevant to Kenya. A significant push is underway to increase protections for over 70 species of sharks and rays, including whale sharks, oceanic whitetips, and manta rays. Proposals led by nations like Panama and Ecuador seek to list these species on CITES Appendix I, which would prohibit all commercial international trade. These measures are vital for Kenya's Indian Ocean ecosystem, where such species are a key attraction for marine tourism and play a crucial role in oceanic health.

Conversely, there are proposals to weaken protections for giraffes, a species that has seen a population decline of nearly 40% over the last three decades due to habitat loss and poaching. Several subspecies, including the reticulated and Masai giraffes found in Kenya, have been classified as endangered by the IUCN. Any move to downlist their CITES protection status would be strongly opposed by Kenya and conservation groups, who argue it would undermine efforts to protect a species facing a 'silent extinction'.

Kenya's Role and the Global Context

Kenya's delegation, typically comprising experts from KWS, the Ministry of Environment, and conservation NGOs, has historically played a significant role at CITES, often chairing working groups on community engagement and livelihoods. The nation's stance is informed by its successful community conservancy model, where local communities are direct beneficiaries of wildlife tourism and are thus key partners in conservation.

The decisions made in Samarkand will reverberate across East Africa. As a nation that has invested heavily in a conservation model based on strict protection and tourism, Kenya's position is that any signal of legal trade could destabilize regional security and conservation efforts. The summit will once again highlight the deep philosophical divide in global conservation: whether sustainable trade of wildlife products can fund protection, or whether total bans are the only effective way to preserve critically endangered species for future generations.