Seven african forest hornbill species win new trade protections at global wildlife summit

In a unanimous decision at the CITES wildlife trade convention in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, negotiators have approved sweeping new protections for seven species of African forest hornbills that were previously unregulated in international trade. The proposal, championed by eight West and Central African nations, adds these distinctive birds to CITES Appendix II, requiring strict oversight and permits for all commercial international trade.

The newly protected species include the black-casqued hornbill and white-thighed hornbill, among others from the genera Ceratogymna and Bycanistes. Unlike their grassland-dwelling cousins, these forest hornbills are concentrated in the dense woodlands of West and Central Africa, where they face mounting pressure from both hunting and habitat destruction.

Over the past two decades, international demand has driven increased hunting of these birds, while widespread deforestation has further decimated their populations. The crisis is particularly acute in Togo, Ghana, and Nigeria, where hornbill numbers have plummeted to historic lows. Research indicates that an average of 100 African hornbills enter international trade annually, highlighting the urgent need for regulation.

“This decision will go a long way in providing urgently needed protections to keep African hornbills where they belong, wild in African ecosystems, rather than in markets for wildlife trade,” said Nico Arcilla, president and research director at the International Bird Conservation Partnership. The consensus approval marks a significant victory for conservation efforts, as none of the 32 known African hornbill species had previously received CITES protection.