Share and view ideas: 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Current status: Closed
Opened on May 23rd, 2025 and will close to new input on October 10th, 2025.
The purpose of this consultation is to allow interested people in Canada to share views and provide input to inform Canada’s preparations and positions for the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CoP20) that will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from November 24th to December 5th, 2025.
Please carefully review our Privacy Notice Statement
Privacy statement for consultations: Environment and Climate Change Canada
The personal information is collected under the authority of the Financial Administration Act and section 5 of the Department of the Environment Act.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is conducting a public consultation for members of the public interested in activities related to international wildlife trade. Individuals, non-governmental organizations, businesses, research institutions, Indigenous peoples and government representatives are invited to partake in the consultation launched in preparation for the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The personal information is being collected, used and disclosed for the purpose of gathering feedback from members of the public regarding Canadian positions on species proposals and other agenda items. Feedback from participants will help contribute to the development of Canadian positions in preparation for the upcoming CoP20. Your participation and decision to provide any information is voluntary.
The personal information created, held or collected by ECCC is protected under the Privacy Act. Information collected in this consultation will be used, disclosed and retained in accordance with the conditions listed in the Personal Information Bank Public Communications PSU 914.
Any questions or comments regarding this privacy notice may be directed to ECCC’s Access to Information and Privacy Division at ECATIP-ECAIPRP@ec.gc.ca . If you are not satisfied that we have adequately respected your privacy, you have a right to file a complaint. You may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada by calling their information center at 1-800-282-1376 or by visiting their contact page.
Who is the focus of this consultation
The Government of Canada will engage with:
- governments (provincial and territorial, municipal)
- Indigenous Peoples
- businesses
- research institutions
- non-governmental organizations
- individuals
Attend a meeting
Please contact us at Cites-Science@ec.gc.ca. with your preferences with the date you would like to participate virtually before September 11, 2025.
| Language | Date and time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| English | Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time [EDT]) | Virtual meeting |
| French | Thursday, September 18, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time [EDT]) | Virtual meeting |
Key discussion items
This step of the consultation has been completed. Firstly, your views and input were sought on a proposal that Canada had been considering submitting for CoP20:
- Proposal to transfer the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) from Appendix I to Appendix II (see below)
Interested people in Canada were invited to submit comments to the CITES Scientific Authority, Canadian Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, no later than June 6, 2025.
Secondly, your views and input are being sought to inform:
- Canadian positions on species proposals being discussed at CoP20
- Canadian positions on other CoP20 agenda items
Official CITES meeting documents for CoP20 are being posted on the CITES website as they become available.
The input gathered through this process will be used as a source of information when developing Canadian positions in preparation for CoP20.
What we are hearing
ECCC, as the lead Department for implementation of CITES in Canada, sought ideas for potential species proposal submissions by Canada, from August to October 2024. ECCC received one proposal for consideration to list the American eel (Anguilla rostrata) on CITES Appendix II. The American eel is not currently listed on CITES Appendices. A listing on Appendix II would control trade of the species by requiring an export permit. An export permit may be issued only if the specimen was legally obtained and if the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild. After careful consideration, Canada decided not to advance this proposal.
Species proposal that Canada has submitted for CoP20
Proposal to transfer the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) from Appendix I to Appendix II of CITES
Following the consultation described above, on June 26, 2025, Canada submitted a proposal to CITES CoP20 to transfer the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) from Appendix I to Appendix II, which would reduce international trade controls. The proposal is being co-sponsored by the United States of America.
- The Peregrine Falcon was assessed globally by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2021 for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Least Concern. As a part of that assessment, it was estimated that there are between 100,000 – 499,000 mature individuals globally and that the population trend is increasing or stable. The Europe and Mediterranean populations were also assessed in 2021 as Least Concern and their population trend is also increasing or stable
- The Peregrine Falcon has a very large global distribution, one of the widest of any bird species. According to the CITES database, Species+, there are 210 countries and territories that are range States of this species. Peregrine Falcons occur in North America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America
- Peregrine Falcons are effectively protected in Canada through federal, provincial and territorial laws and decisions on harvest would remain the responsibility of provinces and territories in the event of a transfer to Appendix II
Based on the analysis of current information, Canada is of the opinion that this species does not meet the biological criteria for continued inclusion in CITES Appendix I, and does not merit the strict controls associated with inclusion in CITES Appendix I.
In October 2024, Canada submitted to the CITES Secretariat a Notification to the Parties (Notification 2024/113) to solicit information and views from range State Parties.
The Department sought views from interested people in Canada and invited comments on the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) proposal for submission by Canada to CoP20. The decision to proceed with the submission was informed by consultations with Indigenous Peoples and other partners and was based on an evaluation of the most recent scientific information and current knowledge of the species, including uses and trade, and existing management, conservation and trade control measures. Your input helped inform the content of the proposal as well as the decision on whether to proceed with the submission.
Related information
Contact us
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service, CITES Scientific Authority
351 boul. St-Joseph, 15th floor,
Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0H3
Email: Cites-Science@ec.gc.ca
Fax: 819-938-4146 or 1-855-869-8671