East Africa: Ivory Trade Ban a Test to Regional Unity

East African Standard (Nairobi)

OPINION
27 May 2007
Posted to the web 28 May 2007

Ernest Mpinganjira
Nairobi

The future of elephants hangs in the balance after African countries disagreed over the 20-year ban on ivory trade.

A cursory glance at the number of African countries supporting Kenya's bid to have the ban continue points to disunity.


During a meeting of African elephant range states in Nairobi last week, it emerged that while West African countries supported the ban on ivory trade, Southern African states did not. The latter favoured the down listing of elephants to endangered species (from species threatened with extinction) to enable their populations to recover.

Among the East Africa states Kenya was alone in calling for a total ban on trade in ivory. Tanzania, which reportedly did not attend the Nairobi meeting despite being invited, sided with Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia and Botswana in calling for the ban - which has been in force since 1989 - to be lifted.

Torn between Kenya and Tanzania, Ugandan delegation sought to consult the government before making a decision. Naturally, Rwanda and Burundi, whose elephant populations were decimated during ethnic bloodletting, supported the moratorium.

Experts warn that poaching on the rise

The "cold war" between Kenya and Tanzania is intriguing given the proximities of their wildlife sanctuaries, which require joint management.

While Tanzania and Kenya tussle, experts are warning that poaching is again on the rise. Many fear that the situation is not far from the disaster of the 1980s.

In 1989, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) signatory states banned ivory trade, a move that was spurred by a sustained massacre of elephants on an unprecedented scale.

During the 1980s, it was estimated that poachers were killing up to 100,000 animals a year. The ban on ivory trade ended the massacres.

Concerns have been raised - ahead of the 14th conference of Cites parties in The Hague in the Netherlands next month -that the current surge in elephant poaching in East Africa in the past 18 months could surpass the grim situation before the ban 18 years ago.

Latest data compiled by Save the Elephants show that there is a significant rise in illegal smuggling of ivory in Kenya and Tanzania destined for markets in India, Japan and the Philippines.

Politicians and businessmen export ivory to Middle East

The organisation said international seizures of ivory show significant shipment of tusks en route to the Philippines from southern Africa - Zambia, Malawi, Namibia and South Africa.

Save the Elephant estimates that since the beginning of this year at least 20 tonnes of ivory were trafficked in Africa and Asian countries, doubling the amount seized in previous years.

The organisation put the price of smuggled ivory at $750 up from $100 in 1989, earning it the tag "white gold" on the black market. The number of elephants killed per annum has shot up to around 23,000.

Given the level of graft in Kenya and Tanzania and the porosity of their borders, it can only be assumed that a substantial fraction of this came from the two countries.

In June last year, it took a fatal accident involving a state-owned truck in Keko to Dar-es-Salaam to expose the level of corruption in wildlife management.

The truck was ferrying hundreds of elephant tusks from Selous National Park. The previous year, a local newspaper detailed how influential politicians and businesspeople export ivory to the Middle East via Tanga, Bagamoyo, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar with the help of senior police officers.

Only a fraction ivory has been impounded

Most of this ivory, it was said, originated in Loliondo conservancy in the north, which borders Kenya's Tsavo National Park.

The latter is said to be popular hunting ground for heavily armed poachers, who easily slip into Tanzania when they sense danger and return to Kenya if Tanzanian game rangers pursue them.

Tanzania wants permission to sell 100 tonnes of elephant tusks. Kenya and Mali, on the other hand, are demanding the 20-year moratorium on the ivory trade be continued to control poaching and smuggling.

East Africa Born Free Foundation reported early this year that the data of seized ivory was a tip of the iceberg.

It noted that only a fraction of the ivory has been impounded, adding that with organised crime now moving back into poaching, "poor African countries have little chance of stopping the trade on their own."

Conservationists posit that the current surge in elephant poaching usually coincides with revival of debate on legalising ivory trade ahead of the Cites meeting.

Prices on the black market have almost quadrupled

In a report prepared for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, researcher Bill Clark warned early this year: "The situation for Africa's elephants has never been as serious as it is today. The ivory trade, legal or illegal, is devastating for these animals."

Clark, an Interpol crime buster, feared that if Botswana and Namibia were allowed to dispose of their stockpiles of ivory, illegal trade would spin out of control.

"The illegal trade has never increased to the extent that it did in 2006. Carved ivory tusks are sold for up to $130,000 in Tokyo," he said.

He added, "A kilogramme of ivory, which sold for $200 in 2004, is now being traded at $750. Prices on the black market have almost quadrupled since 2004."


The expert said a number of provisions for legal trading had also stimulated the market. In 1997, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia were given permission to sell ivory from government stocks.

In 2002, the Cites signatory states further agreed to allow Botswana, Namibia and South Africa to sell a further 60 tonnes of ivory - permission that was eventually revoked because the countries failed to sufficiently document how they had acquired their tusks.

Kenya and Tanzania must agree on the way forward to protect wildlife in the region.

Let the Africans sell there legal stores of ivory and the market price will surely drop (as will poaching) AND they will be receiving well needed revenue.

It's going to be a tough battle at CITES!


Europe backs ivory ban

KIM HELFRICH, The Citizen
May 28, 2007

EUROPEAN polls have shown massive support for a 20-year moratorium on trade in ivory just ahead of next month’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Holland.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) intends supporting the proposal by Kenya and Mali at the meeting and is heartened by the show of support.
“This strong signal for better protection for elephants from European citizens and parliamentarians is encouraging, coming as it does on the eve of the Meeting of the Parties to CITES,†said Lesley O’Donnell, IFAW European Union director.
Last week the EU Parliament adopted a resolution to support the 20-year moratorium, and in a separate roll call 546 parliamentarians voted in favour of the moratorium, with just 13 against.
“At least 20 000 elephants are killed illegally each year for ivory. The EU Parliament is reflecting the strong conviction of European citizens that the best way to protect elephants from this deadly trade is by backing the 20-year ivory ban.â€
The illegal ivory trade is escalating with more than 23 tons of poached ivory seized by customs and enforcement officials between August 2005 and August 2006.
By far the most of this comes from Africa, and official estimates are that this tonnage represents only 10% of the actual illegal trade in ivory.
O’Donnell adds that elephants are not the only victims. “Last week three rangers and four poachers were killed in a shootout in Kenya’s Tana River district.â€

Article at the following link:
http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=39824,1,22