Tanzania Ivory Reprieve

Tanzania to withdraw proposal for ivory sale26/12/2012 23:57:05 Major ivory seizures forced rethink
December 2012. The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has learnt from well-placed, reliable and confidential sources in Tanzania that the Government of that country is to withdraw its controversial proposal to the next full meeting of CITES, which will take place in Bangkok in March 2013, to reduce protection for its elephant population and sell-off 101 tonnes of stockpiled ivory.

According to the EIA, "This move, as yet not confirmed officially, is the only logical course for Tanzania to take - recent major seizures of ivory apparently originating in Tanzania show clearly how little control the country has over the illegal trade in ivory and how vulnerable its elephants really are. Tanzania's withdrawal of its ill-conceived proposal is very good news, and this development is a wonderful early Christmas gift to elephants everywhere."

EIA was the first NGO to reveal Tanzania's plans in October, and the first to formally announce its opposition to the proposed downlisting and ivory.

An EIA spokesman added "At that time we branded the proposal as ‘ludicrous', coming as it did when ivory poaching is escalating and the CITES ivory-trading mechanism itself is increasingly being called into question. EIA firmly believes that such CITES-approved stockpile auctions serve only to stimulate the market for ivory, confusing consumers as to whether ivory is legitimate and spurring further poaching as demand in consumer countries such as China grows.

"We have previously called for China to be stripped of its 'Approved Buyer' status because its domestic market it flooded with poached ivory which is effectively laundered behind the screen of a legal supply.

"EIA works to seek the return of a total global ban on all trade in ivory and an absolute end to all CITES-approved stockpile sales."

WS








According to the EIA, "This move, as yet not confirmed officially, is the only logical course for Tanzania to take - recent major seizures of ivory apparently originating in Tanzania show clearly how little control the country has over the illegal trade in ivory and how vulnerable its elephants really are. Tanzania's withdrawal of its ill-conceived proposal is very good news, and this development is a wonderful early Christmas gift to elephants everywhere."

EIA was the first NGO to reveal Tanzania's plans in October, and the first to formally announce its opposition to the proposed downlisting and ivory.

An EIA spokesman added "At that time we branded the proposal as ‘ludicrous', coming as it did when ivory poaching is escalating and the CITES ivory-trading mechanism itself is increasingly being called into question. EIA firmly believes that such CITES-approved stockpile auctions serve only to stimulate the market for ivory, confusing consumers as to whether ivory is legitimate and spurring further poaching as demand in consumer countries such as China grows.

"We have previously called for China to be stripped of its 'Approved Buyer' status because its domestic market it flooded with poached ivory which is effectively laundered behind the screen of a legal supply.

"EIA works to seek the return of a total global ban on all trade in ivory and an absolute end to all CITES-approved stockpile sales."

Lets hope that stands WS as selling off their stock pile is confusing as to whether Ivory is legal or illegal and will put more Elephants at risk of being killed for their ivory. I suppose we will have to wait until March 2013, it's like the Elephants having a gun held to their heads though, is the trigger going to be pulled or not. Please lets hope it's the right decision.

littlewid-x-

I think CITES have announced this now. Such a relief. While there is legal ivory out there, there will be even more illegal ivory.