African countries to clash over ivory sales at CITES

AFRICAN countries are expected to clash at the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) over Tanzania and Zambia’s proposal seeking a one-off ivory auction.

Some African countries, led by Kenya and Mali, are opposed to the proposal, which is to be tabled at the gathering which started in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday. Earlier this year, the Namibian Government said it would support Tanzania and Zambia’s proposal, as it was in line with Namibia’s philosophy of utilising natural resources sustainably.Kenneth //Uiseb, the Deputy Director for Scientific Services at the Ministry, told The Namibian yesterday that the delegation is headed by Environment Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Others are Environment Permanent Secretary Shangula, Undersecretary Simeon Negumbo and conservation scientists Louisa Mupetami, Pierre du Preez and Elly Hamunyela. Kenya, Mali and some other African countries fear that any resumption of ivory sales could lead to more African elephants being slaughtered by poachers. Some conservationists argue that any ivory trade creates a market in which illegal poached ivory can be laundered, thus boosting demand for it.Tanzania and Zambia also are calling for their elephant population sto be down-listed from CITES Appendix I, which prohibits all trade in animals and plants species, to Appendix II, which allows trade if it is monitored.If Tanzania and Zambia are permitted to have a one-off ivory sale, it would be the third since the world ban came into force in 1989 after the wholesale killing of elephants in the 1980s.The conference on ends on Thursday next week.