Africa divided on resumption of ivory trade

THE Ministry of Environment and Tourism is not prepared to comment on reports that African states are divided on the ban against ivory sales.

Louisa Mupetami, a conservation scientist in the Ministry, said it was a very sensitive matter at this stage and that consultation with other SADC states was needed before Namibia announced a position. Mupetami deals with issues related to the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).She said an upcoming SADC meeting on the use of the region’s natural resources would be a good platform where a common regional position could be sought.Last week, the Geneva-based Cites Secretariat called on African states to overcome a deepening divide on elephant conservation and the ban on ivory trade.The Associated Press reported that David Morgan, head of the Cites Scientific Support Unit, said Kenya and Mali have proposed to the upcoming 14th CITES Conference of Parties that all trade in ivory tusks or finished products be banned for 20 years.Kenya is known for its long-standing opposition to any ivory trade.Meanwhile, Tanzania has requested that its elephant population be downgraded from Cites Appendix I to Appendix II – a list of animal and plant species in which controlled trade is allowed.Namibia and Botswana have jointly submitted a proposal to maintain restricted ivory sales while easing conditions for future sales.Botswana is also independently seeking authorisation for additional one-off sales of 40 tonnes.At the 12th Cites conference held in Chile, Namibia was allowed to have a one-off sale of 2 000 tonnes of ivory, which has yet to take place.At the 13th Cites meeting held in Thailand, Namibia asked for an annual ivory quota for sale but this was again refused.Instead, the meeting permitted Namibia to sell traditional ivory amulets known as Ekipas to tourists visiting the country.The African elephant was placed on Cites Appendix I in 1989 after a wholesale poaching of elephant.The 14th Cites conference will be held from June 3 to 5 in The Netherlands.Mupetami deals with issues related to the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).She said an upcoming SADC meeting on the use of the region’s natural resources would be a good platform where a common regional position could be sought.Last week, the Geneva-based Cites Secretariat called on African states to overcome a deepening divide on elephant conservation and the ban on ivory trade.The Associated Press reported that David Morgan, head of the Cites Scientific Support Unit, said Kenya and Mali have proposed to the upcoming 14th CITES Conference of Parties that all trade in ivory tusks or finished products be banned for 20 years.Kenya is known for its long-standing opposition to any ivory trade.Meanwhile, Tanzania has requested that its elephant population be downgraded from Cites Appendix I to Appendix II – a list of animal and plant species in which controlled trade is allowed.Namibia and Botswana have jointly submitted a proposal to maintain restricted ivory sales while easing conditions for future sales. Botswana is also independently seeking authorisation for additional one-off sales of 40 tonnes.At the 12th Cites conference held in Chile, Namibia was allowed to have a one-off sale of 2 000 tonnes of ivory, which has yet to take place. At the 13th Cites meeting held in Thailand, Namibia asked for an annual ivory quota for sale but this was again refused.Instead, the meeting permitted Namibia to sell traditional ivory amulets known as Ekipas to tourists visiting the country.The African elephant was placed on Cites Appendix I in 1989 after a wholesale poaching of elephant.The 14th Cites conference will be held from June 3 to 5 in The Netherlands.