The Species Survival Network (SSN) coordinates the activities of conservation, environmental and animal protection organizations around the world to secure CITES protection for plants and animals affected by international trade.

SSN's educational and outreach efforts provides organizations from around the world with the information they need to participate in the CITES process. The SSN offers an active internet list to its Members. The SSN's CITES Digest is a regular publication mailed to all CITES Parties free of charge; produced in three languages, the Digest summarizes recent developments pertaining to CITES specifically, and wildlife trade generally.

SSN's legal and scientific research and analysis provide CITES Parties and the general public with the information they can use to better understand the proposals and resolutions considered for adoption by the Parties and the impact that their decisions may have on the survival of species.

SSN's interdisciplinary Working Groups combine the talents and knowledge of SSN's membership, which includes biologists, lawyers, and trade and enforcement experts, to develop and implement plans to advocate CITES protection for species in trade. For example, the Elephant Working Group advocates the maintenance of a ban on the international trade in elephant ivory; the Whale and Dolphin Working Group advocates the maintenance of a ban on the international trade in great whales; and the Bear Working Group advocates a ban on the international trade in bear viscera which are used in traditional medicine. The SSN also has Working Groups on Amphibians, Animals in Captivity, Big Cats, Birds, Implementation, Marine Fish, Primates, Rhinos, Sea Turtles, Timber, Trophy Hunting, and Wildlife Trade.