IFAW: Vote goes against trade for Tanzanian ivory
Parties voted to continue protection for Tanzanian elephants by retaining their listing on Appendix I, and rejecting a request for a one-off ivory sale today at the 15th Conference of the Parties (CoP 15) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting in Doha.
“Fighting to save these elephants paid off today with Parties taking note of the science demonstrating that Tanzanian elephants are still in peril,” said Jason Bell-Leask, Director of IFAW Southern Africa.
“Poaching of elephants and ivory seizures are escalating not decreasing – this decision is a victory for common sense.”
Tanzania and Zambia have submitted proposals seeking permission for a one-off sale of 112 tonnes of ivory. These two countries hoped to open the door for future ivory trade by ‘down-listing’ their elephant populations, which would mean that these elephants would lose the highest levels of protection.
“The same logic that Parties applied to the Tanzanian proposal must apply to the Zambian proposal – down-listing and ivory sales must be rejected,” said Bell-Leask.
At the last CITES conference in 2007, Parties agreed to a nine-year moratorium on any further trade in ivory.
The African Elephant Coalition of 23 African elephant range countries oppose the proposals for the downlistings and one-off sales, insisting that the nine-year resting period provides all African range states the opportunity to cooperatively secure elephants in their habitat.
The Tanzanian proposal was split with Parties voting separately on the one-off sale and the downlisting. The results were:
Downlisting – support 57, oppose 45, abstain 32
One-off sale – support 59, oppose 60, abstain 13
Ends
Media contact: Erica Martin at IFAW in Doha +974 7911 976 or email emartin@ifaw.org
Alternatively contact Clare Sterling at IFAW in the UK on 020 7587 6708, mobile 07917 507717 or email csterling@ifaw.org
About the International Fund for Animal Welfare – As one of the world’s leading animal welfare organisations, IFAW has representation in 16 countries and carries out its animal welfare work in more than 40. IFAW works from its global headquarters in the United States and focuses its campaigns on improving the welfare of wild and domestic animals by reducing the commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats and assisting animals in distress. IFAW works both on the ground and in the halls of government to safeguard wild and domestic animals and seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people. Visit www.ifaw.org
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