Ecuador – The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) applauded a landmark decision by Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to move both Galápagos marine and land iguanas from Appendix II to Appendix I, the highest level of protection under the treaty.

The vote, taken during the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) in Samarkand, effectively bans international commercial trade in these Endangered Galápagos iguanas and recognizes the mounting pressures they face across the islands.

Ecuador submitted two proposals—Proposal 22 for the marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) and Proposal 23 for land iguanas (Conolophus spp.)—both receiving broad support and adopted by consensus.

“CITES works best when governments act before species are pushed to the brink,” said Dr. Susan Lieberman, WCS Vice President for International Policy. “Today’s decision to uplist the endemic Galápagos iguanas, to Appendix I shows that countries are willing to take precautionary action in the face of increasing threats—from climate change to invasive species to illegal trade. This is exactly the kind of leadership the world needs to safeguard irreplaceable wildlife.”

The Galápagos Islands are home to unique reptile species found nowhere else. Marine iguanas—the only lizards that forage in the ocean—suffer sharp declines during El Niño events and confront pollution, coastal development, and poaching for the illegal pet trade. Land iguanas, including the critically endangered pink land iguana, face threats from introduced predators, habitat loss, and the illegal pet market.

“Each of these iguanas represents a distinct evolutionary lineage that has survived for millennia in isolation,” said Sebastián Valdivieso, Country Director for WCS Ecuador. “The Parties’ decision to uplist them to Appendix I closes the door on commercial trade and strengthens the tools available to conservation partners working to ensure their survival. Ecuador is deeply committed to protecting the natural heritage of the Galápagos, and this decision reinforces that commitment.”

WCS has worked for decades with Ecuador and local partners to protect Galápagos wildlife through invasive species control, strengthened law enforcement, expanded marine protection, and ongoing reptile conservation.

With the new Appendix I listing, WCS urges continued global cooperation to confront growing threats to the islands and ensure CITES remains a strong defense against extinction driven by the international pet and hobbyist trade.

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