34th Meeting of the CITES Animals Committee

About the 34th Meeting of the Animals Committee (AC34)

The CITES Animals Committee was established in 1987 to fill gaps in biological and other specialized knowledge regarding species of animals that are (or might become) subject to CITES trade controls. Its role is to provide technical support to decision-making about these species.

From 13 to 17 July 2026, the 34th meeting of the CITES Animals Committee (AC34) convenes global scientific experts in Geneva to advance this new global scientific and technical agenda and discuss conservation progress and plans for the sustainable management and trade of corals, sharks and rays, eels, big cats, vultures, and amphibians, among other fauna. Around 73 Governments and 79 observer organizations have registered for the meeting, with a total of almost 500 expected participants.

The week will conclude with a joint session of the CITES Animals Committee and the CITES Plants Committee on 17 July 2026, bringing together scientific experts from both Committees to address shared priorities including the Convention’s application to fungi, a process to obtain feedback on the use of the NDF Guidance, enhancing the work and efficiency of the Convention through the permanent committees and capacity-building, including the country-wide review of significant trade.

Livestream

Executive Summaries

Executive summaries in all languages are available on the CITES website.

• Executive summary for 13 July 2026
• Executive summary for 15 July 2026
• Executive summary for 16 July 2026
• Executive summary for 17 July 2026
• Executive summary for 17 July 2026 (AC34/PC28)

Side Events

14 July 2026

12:15-13:45 CEST

• Eel Sustainability | Organized by Zoological Society of London, IUCN | CICG, Room 14

17:15-18:45 CEST

• Reptile trade toolbox | Organized by Germany | CICG, Room 4

15 July 2026

12:15-13:45 CEST

• Captive, Allegedly | Organized by Cheetah Conservation Fund | CICG, Room 4

• Maw Trade Impacts | Organized by Animal Welfare Institute, Wildlife Conservation Society | CICG, Room 14

16 July 2026

12:15-13:45 CEST

• A more effective CITES | Organized by South Africa and Switzerland | CICG, Room 4

17:15-18:45 CEST

• CITES Shark Compliance | Organized by Wildlife Conservation Society, Mote Marine Lab, Bloom, Hong Kong | CICG, Room 4

17 July 2026

12:15-13:45 CEST

• SADC CITES trade | Organized by South Africa | CICG, Room 4
• CITES Tree Species Programme | Organized by CITES Secretariat | CICG, Room 12

Highlights

Day 5

Day 4

Day 3

Day 2

Day 1

28th meeting of the CITES Plants Committee (PC28)

Links

• Reptiles, eels, sharks and corals selected for CITES review process for ensuring trade sustainability and species survival | CITES | 22 July 2026
• What’s at Stake for Cheetahs at CITES AC34 | Cheetah Conservation Fund | 15 July 2026
• 34th meeting of the Animals Committee: Opening Remarks by CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero | CITES | 14 July 2026
• Can CITES benefit from integrating standard trade-policy analysis? | Earthmind | 13 July 2026
• Scientists to advance global technical agenda for sustainable trade and conservation of corals, eels, big cats & more | CITES | 7 July 2026
• Monitoring online illegal wildlife trade | GI-TOC | 7 July 2026
• Is CITES AC34 supporting GBF Target 5? | Earthmind | 3 July 2026
• Summary of Issues to be Discussed at the Thirty-Fourth Session of the CITES Animals Committee | Species Survival Network