TRAFFIC's Expert-Led Thematic Areas at CoP20

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs)

TRAFFIC is helping shape global policy on sustainable trade in medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) and taking practical steps to support implementation of CITES measures for these species – important for both biodiversity conservation and their contribution to human wellbeing. Our current project Scaling conservation of Himalayan plants and fungi through sustainable trade is collecting field inventory data for Nardostachys jatamansi (CITES Appendix II) and other Himalayan MAP species, which will be used to inform harvest management plans and the development of Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs). Our previous work has explored the relevance of voluntary sustainability certification standards to the trade in CITES Appendix II listed MAPs, and more recently, we co-authored with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, a report on Trade in Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Species on behalf of the CITES Secretariat, which will be discussed under Agenda item 100 at CITES CoP20.

Jaguars

TRAFFIC has been closely involved in advancing jaguar (Panthera onca) conservation, as the species continues to face acute threats from habitat loss, human–wildlife conflict, and the illegal trade in live specimens, parts, and derivatives. Despite its CITES Appendix I protection, killings and trafficking persist. At CoP20, Parties will consider a Regional Plan of Action, an agreed CITES draft resolution, and the establishment of an intergovernmental platform and monitoring system on jaguar killings. TRAFFIC participated in the discussions shaping these outcomes, providing recommendations grounded in its technical expertise and experience in wildlife trade monitoring. These initiatives aim to strengthen international collaboration, secure the species, its prey, and habitats, and establish a robust framework for long-term recovery across its range. 

Demand Reduction

TRAFFIC has driven a systemic transformation in how conservation programmes tackle consumer demand, significantly enhancing engagement efforts under CITES. A major achievement was authoring the official Guidance for CITES Parties on Demand Reduction, which was formally adopted by all Parties at CoP19 in Panama (2022). This key document, which Parties are strongly urged to implement under Resolution Conf. 17.4 (rev 1), has since been actively rolled out through a substantial series of regional training events—led by TRAFFIC in Asia, Africa, and at the national level in key countries including China. TRAFFIC also guided the CITES Secretariat on the development of a dedicated resource page on CITES.org for demand reduction matters. We acted as the technical lead for regional demand reduction pilots, designing initiatives to reduce the demand for Totoaba fish maws in China; and targeting the belief-based use of vulture parts and products in West Africa. Through capacity building, technical innovation, and global advocacy, TRAFFIC creates scalable, replicable models contributing to long-term reductions in illegal wildlife trade. 
 

Elephants

For nearly 30 years, TRAFFIC has managed the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS), providing CITES with most comprehensive data and analysis to guide global decision-making on the trade in elephant specimens. Through detailed reports to the CITES Standing Committee and the Conference of the Parties (CoP), ETIS serves as the foundation to identify CITES Parties that require attention under the National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) process, whereby participating NIAP Parties develop action plans to combat illegal trade in elephant specimens.  

Since CoP19, TRAFFIC has advanced a series of programme enhancements following the ETIS programme review, including the development of cutting-edge network analysis methodologies that map illicit ivory trade routes and connections. A new online network mapping tool enables Parties to visualise their role within these illegal ivory trade networks, thus supporting more targeted law enforcement and international collaboration. 

As CoP20 approaches, TRAFFIC is committed to delivering the best available science to inform CITES policy and strengthen collective action against the illegal trade in elephant ivory. 

Indigenous Peoples, and Local Communities

TRAFFIC supports and empowers Indigenous Peoples, and Local Communities to improve their livelihoods through participating in legal and sustainable wild species trade. 

In Malawi, TRAFFIC partnered with FairWild to guide communities in using FairWild Standard tools and systems, enabling 27 villages to adopt sustainable harvesting practices and register as harvesters. In Nepal, TRAFFIC trained local resource persons to deliver sustainable harvesting training which will be rolled out to 20,000 harvesters and will conduct a national stock assessment to help the Nepalese government manage wild plants and fungi sustainably. TRAFFIC also supports efforts to ensure Indigenous Peoples, and Local Communities participation in global policy frameworks like CITES and CBD. 

Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs)

TRAFFIC has been at the forefront of shaping how Parties develop Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs), the assessments that ensure trade in CITES-listed species is sustainable. In partnership with Germany’s Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), we developed and recently released the fourth edition of our science-based 9-Step Guidance, a cornerstone reference underpinning the CITES NDF guidance now under discussion at CoP20, particularly Modules 10 and 11 on tree species and perennial plants. Updated with new decision tools, e-learning modules and full CITES-language translations, it is helping governments worldwide set robust, evidence-driven harvest levels and build lasting capacity through workshops and online training, including ITTO-supported events.  
Explore the dedicated platform: www.9steps-cites-ndf.org 

Rhinos

Poaching for the illegal rhino horn trade continues to pose a great threat to the survival of the world’s five remaining rhinoceros species. Since CoP14, TRAFFIC and the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s African and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups have jointly produced the reports on African and Asian Rhinoceroses - Status, Conservation and Trade, providing critical insights into global rhino conservation and trade dynamics. 

In the latest report to CoP20, TRAFFIC and IUCN present updated data on illegal killings and rhino horn trafficking trends. A new interactive online tool enables users to explore data summaries and gain insights as to which Parties are most affected by poaching and the illegal trade; for the latter, an estimated 1.8 tonnes of illegal horn specimens were seized around the globe from 2021 to 2023. 

As a participant in the CITES Rhinoceros Enforcement Task Force meeting, TRAFFIC also contributed to the development of the outcome document outlining key strategies and recommended actions to strengthen international efforts against rhino poaching and trafficking. Aimed at strengthening both national and international law enforcement and reducing demand for illegal rhino horn, the Task Force recommendations have been incorporated into the CoP20 Decisions directed at Parties affected by rhinoceros poaching and associated trafficking.  

Songbirds

TRAFFIC has been leading efforts to address the international songbird trade, generating evidence and analysis that have shaped regional and global policy responses. Previously, our extensive research led to international songbird trade getting recognition at CITES. Our data played a pivotal role in securing the listing of the White-rumped Shama on Appendix II and uplisting of the Straw-headed Bulbul to Appendix I at CITES CoP19, and contributed to the Songbird Species Knowledge Initiative to support CITES Decisions and Recommendations for Passeriformes. At the CITES technical workshop on Songbird Trade and Conservation Management, ‘we shared information on growing cross-border songbird seizures in Asia and catalysed discussions on applying lessons from Asia to other regions; workshop outcomes and recommendations are to be discussed under CoP20 Doc. 83.  Read more on the Asian songbird species we work with at TRAFFIC 

Financial Crime and Corruption

TRAFFIC is leading efforts to strengthen the enforcement response to wildlife crime, which is increasingly enabled by corruption, a major issue addressed since the adoption of Resolution Conf. 17.6 at CITES CoP17. Our expertise helps governments and enforcement agencies tackle high-level criminality by promoting the integration of financial investigations into wildlife crime cases, a critical shift from targeting low-level offenders to dismantling the criminal syndicates that profit from illicit financial flows. We achieve this through strategic actions, from entering a major partnership with Transparency International to providing bespoke technical tools and training that support legislative reform. Our expertise provides strategic data and analysis to inform effective measures against emerging threats building the capacity required to detect, deter, and disrupt all forms of environmental crime, supporting the compliance and enforcement mandates under discussion at CoP20. Our regional and national work to provide knowledge and practical advice can be seen in the following publications; a guide for financial investigators in the Philippines and best practice for financial investigation from successful cases in the EU. 

Tigers

Across Asia, the tiger remains both a powerful symbol of nature’s resilience and a target for organised criminal networks. TRAFFIC’s long-running ‘Skin and Bones’ report series has documented over two decades of illegal tiger trade, creating the world’s most comprehensive dataset on seizures and trafficking trends. 

Building on this evidence, the new 2025 report ‘Law of the Tiger’ identified key areas where national legislation across tiger range countries can be strengthened — including clearer regulations on captive breeding, online sales, and stronger penalties for trafficking. These insights can now help governments to strengthen laws, align with CITES commitments, and close the loopholes exploited by criminals. Together with enforcement training and cross-border collaboration, these efforts are helping to drive real progress. 

By turning evidence into action, TRAFFIC is helping ensure that tigers remain where they belong — in the wild, not the marketplace.