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CITES calls for stronger action to protect rhinos from poaching, illegal trade – EnviroNews
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The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has called for sustained global action to protect rhinoceros populations from poaching and illegal trade in rhino horn, warning that the future of the five remaining rhino species cannot be taken for granted.
CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero, made the call in a message to mark World Rhino Day 2026 on September 22, describing rhinoceroses as “keystone giants of nature” whose ecological roles include shaping ecosystems, dispersing seeds and enriching soils.
She said although rhinos had survived on Earth for millions of years, poaching and illegal trafficking of their horns remained among the greatest threats to their survival.
“We must stay proactive, vigilant, and persistent in the fight against wildlife crime,” Higuero said.
According to her, the fact that all five rhinoceros species are listed in the CITES Appendices highlights both the seriousness of the threats confronting them and the need for stronger international commitment to their protection and recovery.
She urged the international community to unite around measures that would secure the long-term survival of rhinos in the wild.
Communities central to rhino conservation
Higuero stressed that effective rhino conservation goes beyond legislation and law enforcement, noting that communities living alongside the animals must be central to conservation efforts.
“People are the true custodians of rhino conservation,” she said, adding that rhinos contribute to livelihoods, tourism and local prosperity across their range States.
She said long-term protection of the species therefore requires the trust, engagement and support of communities living alongside rhinos.
“Conservation succeeds when local people share in its benefits,” she said.
According to the CITES chief, strong community support, combined with effective conservation and enforcement measures, can deliver meaningful progress in protecting rhino populations.
Progress recorded despite threats
Higuero noted that CITES Parties had strengthened measures to protect rhinos following decades of heavy poaching and population decline.
She said there were now encouraging signs of progress, with stronger enforcement and conservation measures helping some rhino populations to stabilise and even increase.
Data on illegal wildlife trade had also indicated progress in reducing rhino trafficking, she added.
However, Higuero stressed that the progress achieved so far should not lead to complacency.
Building on existing efforts, the CITES Rhinoceros Enforcement Task Force was convened in 2025 to develop practical strategies and targeted actions to combat rhino poaching and trafficking.
She said the measures were intended to give countries stronger tools to tackle wildlife crime and protect rhinoceros populations.
Global review planned for November
Higuero said the international community would have another opportunity to strengthen its response when the CITES Standing Committee meets in Geneva in November 2026.
She said the meeting would provide an opportunity to assess progress, renew international commitment and strengthen collective efforts to secure the future of rhinos in the wild.
“Together, we can ensure that these extraordinary animals remain part of our future, not only our history,” Higuero said.
She made the remarks as countries and conservation organisations marked World Rhino Day, an annual occasion highlighting the importance of protecting rhinoceroses and addressing the threats posed by poaching, illegal wildlife trade and habitat pressures.