Posted on October, 12 2004

Bangkok – Members of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species took several decisions regarding elephants and ivory trade. They adopted an action plan to crack down on unregulated domestic ivory markets across Africa. 
 
“The endorsement by the 166 CITES member countries of this plan was a conservation victory,” said Dr. Peter J. Stephenson, Coordinator of WWF’s African Elephant Programme. “For the first time, the plan endorsed today commits every African country with an internal ivory market to either strictly control the trade or shut it down altogether. 
 
“Africa’s unregulated domestic ivory markets continue to be the biggest driver of poaching for illegal trade,” added Dr. Stephenson. “Fifteen years after CITES took action against unregulated global ivory trade, we finally have a plan for domestic markets with real teeth.” 
 
Late Monday, a proposal by Namibia for annual sales of up to 2,000 kilograms of ivory was rejected. 
 
“Namibia’s proposal for commercial trade was premature and the international community rightly rejected it,” said Dr. Susan Lieberman, Head of WWF delegation at CITES. “Until the monitoring system to track the illegal killing of elephants is fully operational, there should not be a resumption of global ivory trade. We also need to wait until the one-off sales of ivory approved at the 2002 CITES meeting take place and see whether there is an impact on poaching.” 
 
CITES members two years ago approved conditional one-time sales of ivory by Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, but they are not expected to take place until 2005. 
 
Another proposal by Namibia to create a commercial trade in “ekipas,” traditional ivory carvings by two ethnic communities, was also defeated. 
 
“WWF acknowledges the exemplary elephant conservation programmes of both Namibia and South Africa, and in particular highlights the community-based natural resource management programmes in Namibia that provide real benefits to local communities,” added Dr. Lieberman. “WWF supported allowing these ekipas to be sold non-commercially to tourists visiting Namibia, but felt it was premature to allow commercial trade at this time.”  
 
WWF will work closely with South Africa, Namibia, and other African countries between now and the next CITES meeting, through its field and policy programmes, for the benefit of elephant conservation. 
 
CITES parties also voted to allow trade in elephant leather and hair by Namibia and South Africa. There is no evidence that elephants are poached for their leather or hair, so this trade is not expected to be a conservation threat. 
 
For more information:
 
Joanna Benn,
WWF Species Programme,
Bangkok tel: +66 6563 7753,
Jbenn@wwfint.org 
 
Olivier van Bogaert,
WWF International’s Press Office,
Bangkok tel: +66 4089 2344,
ovanbogaert@wwfint.org