Illegal wildlife trading is one of the world’s most profitable environmental crimes. International specialists at the 20th CITES Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, estimated that this kind of crime generates from €6.6 billion to €21.9 billion annually and impacts thousands of species.
International conservation assessments show that over 40,000 species are currently threatened with extinction.
Many of these species are targeted due to illegal commercial demand. Increasing threats, including illegal trade, habitat destruction, and environmental degradation, demand stronger protection measures.
As a result, countries and institutions are turning to modern technologies such as AI, digital monitoring, and DNA-based identification to keep these endangered species safe.
Tech-driven enforcement under CITES
During CITES COP20 in Samarkand, Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero highlighted the role of innovation in preventing the illegal wildlife trade. She explained that CITES works closely with enforcement partners, including Interpol and the World Customs Organisation.
Higuero emphasised that AI-powered computer vision is now used at border checkpoints worldwide. These systems help detect illegal cross-border movement of endangered specimens.
She also noted the increased use of drones and remote camera monitoring systems. These tools support wildlife monitoring, population counting, movement tracking, and crime detection.
According to Higuero, GPS markers and collars provide long-term data on migration and population trends. They help conservation bodies better understand species movement and survival risks.
‘SMART’ monitoring in Central Asia
SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) is among the most widely used systems for enforcing protected areas. It also supports biodiversity data collection and reporting of violations. Central Asia has now officially joined the global SMART monitoring network.
Regional conservation manager Islam Mamedov explained that SMART helps countries build custom geolocated wildlife databases for their protected territories. It also allows users to log violations, analyse species presence, and generate trend reports.
He also introduced the smart trap device. This lightweight, portable monitoring tool is enhanced with AI. The device can recognise animal species, detect diseases, and flag territorial violations.
Trap is being tested and scaled globally for real-time wildlife monitoring. It can also identify diseases and report unusual animal behaviour instantly from the field.
_“_It can recognise animal species itself, and send information to you in real time,” Mamedov said.
Uzbekistan’s digital inspection and agro-assistance platforms
Uzbekistan is integrating conservation technologies into its national inspection systems.
Phytosanitary State Inspector Ozoda Ortikova from Bulungur District shared examples of local digital adoption. She explained that inspectors now use tablet-based field monitoring with live geolocation. This system also includes risk classification using the “Dala Nazorat” platform.
Ortikova also mentioned “Agro Ko’makchi”, a mobile platform designed for farmers and agricultural workers. It includes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) guidance and a “Call Inspector” function. Through the platform, farmers can request inspection support directly.
The system automatically dispatches environmental officers to the farm’s live location.
“If pests or disease are detected, samples are sent to the central lab for DNA analysis,” she added.
Innovative protection of Central Asia’s flora
To enhance the protection of plants, Uzbekistan’s Academy of Sciences introduced several region-scale innovations. These projects focus on biodiversity databases and alternative species identification tools.
Ziyovuddin Yusupov from the Botanical Institute presented the Grid Mapping project, the first of its kind in the region. It is currently the only full plant coordinate database covering Central Asia from Uzbekistan.
“We collected coordinates of all Central Asian plants and created a unique platform for monitoring,” Yusupov stated. He also introduced the “Tree of Life Uzbekistan” initiative — a DNA plant database for Central Asia where the data is integrated into a single regional scientific platform.
Currently, 700 plant DNA profiles have already been stored. The goal is to reach 4,500 species for Uzbekistan and 9,000 for Central Asia within 5 to 10 years.
Yusupov also demonstrated a 200-gram portable Raman spectroscopy laser device integrated with AI. The device enables fast species identification when DNA testing is not possible.
He highlighted that the tool helps combat illegal collection and export of CITES- and Red Book-listed plants. It supports both environmental security measures and long-term scientific biodiversity research.