The Hague, The Netherlands - Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe agreed at a United Nations meeting in The Hague today not to propose additional ivory trade from their countries for at least nine years, or 2016 at the earliest. The agreement was reached at a meeting of the 171 members of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which will conclude tomorrow.
(Media-Newswire.com) - The Hague, The Netherlands - Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe agreed at a United Nations meeting in The Hague today not to propose additional ivory trade from their countries for at least nine years, or 2016 at the earliest. The agreement was reached at a meeting of the 171 members of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) which will conclude tomorrow.
"This reprieve will give elephants a break," said Teresa M. Telecky, Ph.D., director of the wildlife trade program for The Humane Society of the United States/Humane Society International ( HSUS/HSI ). "It will also give African countries time to improve law enforcement efforts to stem poaching and illegal trade before any further ivory trade from these countries is considered."
The agreement also includes the possibility that these same countries can export government-owned stockpiles of ivory registered by January 31, 2007 and verified by CITES authorities after certain conditions are met. This ivory would be exported in a single shipment to each country of destination. To date, only Japan has been approved as a country of destination.
The agreement follows a decision on June 2 by the CITES Standing Committee to allow a maximum of 20,000 kg of ivory from Botswana, 10,000 kg from Namibia and 30,000 kg from South Africa to be traded and dispatched in a single shipment under strict supervision of the Secretariat to Japan. Today's agreement will allow additional ivory in government stockpiles to be exported as well, most likely to Japan but also possibly to China which has also applied for permission to import ivory.
"Although the agreement may allow more ivory to be traded from the four countries in the short term, we hope that any negative impact of this trade will be overwhelmed by the positive impact of the reprieve," added Dr. Telecky.
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Humane Society International is the international arm of The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty.
Teresa Telecky, 301-312-1267; Susan Bluttman, 240-453-9892
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