Singapore, 2 June 2025 – As the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, it is also looking to the future—one shaped by the next generation of leaders who gathered for the first-ever CITES Global Youth Summit (CGYS).
Held in Singapore from 27 to 31 May 2025, the Summit was organised by the founding members of the CITES Global Youth Network (CGYN), with support from City Developments Limited (CDL), Mandai Nature, the National Parks Board of Singapore (NParks), the National University of Singapore Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, the Singapore Oceanarium, the Government of Switzerland, and the CITES Secretariat. This event aimed to build on the foundation established by the launch of the CGYN at the CITES Youth Leadership Programme (CYLP) in April 2024, convening a dynamic and diverse group of young leaders from across the globe committed to building a world where legal and sustainable wildlife trade is informed by empowered and knowledgeable younger generations.
The Summit was first announced in October 2024, and a call for CGYS nominations from CITES Parties and Observers was made at the 78th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC78) in February 2025. In response, 56 national CITES authorities and Observer organisations nominated 76 participants who attended the summit from 53 countries, representing all six CITES regions. Attendees included young scientists, rangers, lawyers, conservationists, and advocates—reflecting a broad range of disciplines and expertise essential to advancing the CITES mission to ensure the sustainability, legality and traceability of international wildlife trade.
The five-day programme featured immersive learning, knowledge sharing, and expert engagement designed to equip participants with the tools needed to address today’s complex challenges in wildlife trade and species conservation. The event was officially opened by the President of the Republic of Singapore, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and included opening addresses by Singapore’s Minister of State for National Development and Trade & Industry Mr Alvin Tan and CITES Secretary-General Ms Ivonne Higuero.
“The illegal trade of wild animals and plants threatens the survival of endangered species, contributes to habitat destruction and harms biodiversity around the world. This affects every single one of us, regardless of where we come from,” said Minister of State Alvin Tan. “CGYN is today an important platform for youths to network, share knowledge, and build a strong foundational understanding of the intricacies of sustainable wildlife trade from an early stage. Their collective efforts give us hope for how youths can inspire and influence wildlife conservation efforts globally, beyond Singapore and this Summit.”
“CITES is at a defining moment—mobilizing youth is not only important, but indispensable to advancing its mission and confronting the urgent environmental challenges of our time,” said Secretary-General Higuero. “These young leaders are a powerful reminder that effective CITES implementation requires inclusive, informed, and action-oriented leadership.”
Participants engaged in a wide array of interactive activities, including five thematic workshops, expert-led dialogues, project brainstorming sessions, and a Human Library featuring senior conservation and CITES professionals. They also had the chance to create posters that showcased their unique cultures, projects and interests to collaborate with other attendees in their regions who share similar goals or have complementary skills. A highlight of the programme was a simulated Conference of the Parties (CoP), providing participants with hands-on experience in CITES decision-making processes.
“The CITES Global Youth Network is here to be a partner,” said CGYN co-founder Steffi Tan. “By building bridges, fostering collaborations and enhancing intergenerational cooperation with experienced officials, practitioners, and experts, we hope to contribute to our future of sustainable wildlife trade for the benefit of both people and the planet.”
Following the Summit, participants will continue their collaboration through the CGYN, engaging across regions to amplify youth voices and drive initiatives focused on biodiversity conservation and sustainable trade.
By participating in such multilateral platforms, youth contribute to broader discussions on species conservation and sustainable trade, bringing diverse perspectives and expertise that can inform policy and implementation.
The CITES Global Youth Summit 2025 highlighted ongoing efforts by CITES Parties to involve youth more actively in the Convention’s processes. The CGYN plays a key role in supporting the implementation of the CITES Resolution Con. 17.5 (Rev. CoP18) on Youth Engagement, which encourages CITES Parties to establish long term youth engagement and empowerment strategies to ensure the participation of the youth in wildlife conservation issues and CITES decision-making processes.
To learn more about the CITES Global Youth Network, follow CGYN on social media:
• Instagram (@CITESYouth)
• LinkedIn.com/company/CITES-Global-Youth-Network
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