As part of my regular ‘shared’ or ‘reposted’ news updates, here is the latest from the Conservation Action Trust. The London Conservation Conference has agreed on a 10 year moratorium for ivory sales – will this be enough or just a timespan to be used to hoard blood ivory and then flood the market, greedy for the ‘white gold’, with yet more supplies, ringing in another round of elephant slaughter? Should the world not just categorically and unequivocally ban ivory sales for good?
Read the CAT’s lastest and make up your own mind.
Updates from the Conservation Action Trust
African nations agree to a 10 year moratorium on ivory sales
London, United Kingdom – Today, heads of state, ministers and officials of around 50 countries convened in London for a summit on illegal wildlife trade. The opening of the conference held at London’s Lancaster House, which was addressed by the Prince of Wales as well as the UK’s Foreign Secretary, William Hague, is one of the highest level summits to tackle the burgeoning international illegal trade, especially ivory and rhino horn, where elephants and rhinos have been slaughtered in an unprecedented number. Rhino horn is now worth more per kilogram than gold or cocaine. Prince William said on launching a new organisation to combat trade, United for Wildlife that “we have to be the generation that stopped the illegal wildlife trade, and secured the future of these magnificent animals, and their habitats, for if we fail, it will be too late.”
Ahead of the summit the US announced it would ban all commercial imports and exports of ivory products. This comes in the wake of last November’s crushing of that country’s ivory stockpile, which prompted China, the biggest buyer of ivory and who will also be represented at the conference, to do the same in January this year. China’s action was followed by a commitment from Hong Kong to do the same with its 32 tons of stockpiled ivory and just last week France crushed a portion of it’s stockpile while London followed closely with a ceremonial crushing of ivory just before the summit convened.
At the opening, Hague said that delegates would be adopting an “ambitious and powerful London Declaration.” This would include a commitment to renouncing the use of any products from species at threat of extinction and a promise to support the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) ban on the international trade on ivory until elephant populations have stabilized. He added: “The illegal wildlife trade is a global problem and it matters deeply to all of us gathered here today”.
“We need to show the world our political commitment at the highest level across the globe to addressing this before it is to late.”
In line with the US announcement this week, the leaders of four African countries – Gabon, Botswana, Chad and Tanzania – who spoke at the start of the summit committed to a 10-year moratorium on any ivory sales.
The President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, said: “Last year, we burnt an entire stockpile of ivory to show that Gabon has no tolerance for this.”
President Ian Seretse-Khama of Botswana said that he would put the country’s ivory stockpiles out of reach of the markets.
Tanzania, however, has been particularly vocal about selling its stockpile of ivory, estimated to be well over twenty tons. It had hoped to gain a CITES approved ‘once-off’ sale of its stockpile and use the funds to continue the battle against poachers but after sustained pressure from other countries, conservationists and celebrities this past month, the East African nation seems to have shelved its plans in favour of a united stand with the other four African countries.
In 2008 Zimbabwe and South Africa were granted once-off sales of over 100 tons of their ivory stockpiles to China. It was a move many conservationists blamed for the recent spike in the slaughter of elephants. As Mary Rice, executive director of the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), said: “We need to learn from history and permanently shut down all ivory trade – international and domestic.”
The 10-year moratorium upholding the ban, will prevent any country asking permission from CITES to sell their ivory and it is hoped that it would go a long way to help the recovery of Africa’s declining elephant populations.
Best wishes,
Linda
ADMINISTRATORConservation Action Trust
www.conservationaction.co.za
One Response
Vitally important progress was made at the London Conference. The efforts of so many, including the Foreign Secretary and both Prince Charles and Prince William, were vital but the commitment of key African nations, Ethiopia, Gabon, Tchad, Botswana and laterly Tanzania, has been nothing short of inspirational.
Plans to assist in the removal/destruction of Africa’s ivory stockpiles under the Elephant Protection Initiative, supported by Stop Ivory, Save The Elephants, Born Free and others, is a key part of building momentum for lasting change.
Two major factors remain outstanding, however, when it comes to elephants.
Firstly there needs to be significant international funding for the African Elephant Action Plan. The money on the table so far simply gets nowhere near addressing the need for resources.
Secondly, what to do about the legal stockpiles held in ‘consumer’ nations? This is the chance for China to take a global lead on this issue and not only detroy its illegal, seized ivory stocks but eliminate its LEGAL stockpiles and CLOSE its domestic market entirely.
It is time for a policy of zero tolerance towards ivory – the seriousness of the situation cannot be under-estimated. See http://www.bloodyivory.org for details.
With renewed hope for elephants!
Will Travers OBE
President Born Free Foundation