Why should Zimbabwes government profit from ivory?
Catherine Brahic, New Scientist July 17, 2008 News broke last night that China will be allowed to buy legal African stocks of ivory in a one-off sale. The announcement was criticised by conservation groups – including the International Fund for Animal Welfare – who fear that China’s poor record in controlling the ivory trade could open the doors to illegal elephant poaching. Under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), ivory trade is banned. But member nations to the convention have so far authorised two one-off sales, heavily controlled. All profits generated by the sale need to be put towards elephant conservation or community development projects. The first one-off sale took place in 1999: Japan, the only authorised importer at the time, bought 50 tonnes from Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The second “one-off” has yet to take place, but now China will be able to bid as well. This means that CITES members believe China can ensure that only the legal
