October 2012. Tanzania has formally applied to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for permission to hold a one-off sale of 101 tonnes of stockpiled ivory and to reduce protection for its elephant population.
Tanzania wants to open its ivory trade
If the CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP16) in Bangkok next March approves the application to downlist Tanzania's elephant population from Appendix 1 to the lesser protection of Appendix 2, the African country intends to seek approval for trade in hunting trophies for non-commercial purposes, trade in registered raw ivory (whole tusks and pieces), trade in raw hides including feet, ears and tails, and trade in live animals.
If the CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP16) in Bangkok next March approves the application to downlist Tanzania's elephant population from Appendix 1 to the lesser protection of Appendix 2, the African country intends to seek approval for trade in hunting trophies for non-commercial purposes, trade in registered raw ivory (whole tusks and pieces), trade in raw hides including feet, ears and tails, and trade in live animals.
‘Ludicrous'
The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) have called the proposal ‘ludicrous', coming as it does at a time when ivory poaching is escalating and the CITES ivory-trading mechanism itself is increasingly being called into question.
The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) have called the proposal ‘ludicrous', coming as it does at a time when ivory poaching is escalating and the CITES ivory-trading mechanism itself is increasingly being called into question.
EIA Executive Director and Elephant Campaign head Mary Rice said: "The very system CITES uses to permit so-called ‘one-off' auctions is profoundly flawed and, we believe, a major driver of poaching and the illegal international trade in ivory.
"It's ludicrous for Tanzania to even consider applying for permission to cash in on its stockpile - dumping more than 100 tonnes of ivory onto the market will only serve to further confuse consumers as to the legal status of ivory, stimulating fresh demand, spurring the black market and leading to more poaching.
"Parties to CITES need to regain control of the destructive world ivory markets and end the damage done to undermine the 1989 ivory trade ban by firmly vetoing all proposals for ivory sales. They can start by emphatically rejecting Tanzania's proposal in March, sending out an unequivocal message that all ivory is blood ivory."
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