Posted on 06 February
2014 | France today destroyed three tonnes
of seized ivory, two months since the announcement
of its national action plan against poaching
and illegal wildlife trade.
The announcement came
at the closure of the Elysee Summit for
peace and security in Africa, where the
President of France, Francois Hollande and
nine African Heads of State gathered to
discuss the serious implications of illegal
wildlife trade for stability, peace, and
development.
The move follows similar
destructions of seized ivory by Gabon, the
US, the Philippines and China all in the
space of two years.
WWF congratulates France
for this symbolic move, and urges governments
globally to take the action that is needed
to stem the illegal trade in ivory and other
wildlife products.
Illegal wildlife trade,
a $19 billion transnational crime, continues
to grow, over a thousand rhinos were killed
last year in South Africa alone, while Tanzania
lost two thirds of its elephant population
in the Selous ecosystem in the last four
years.
Political momentum to
tackle illegal illegal wildlife trade on
a global level is growing and on February
12th, a two day conference on the issue
takes place in London.
The London Conference
on Illegal Wildlife Trade expects Heads
of Government and Foreign Ministers from
around 50 countries, including those at
the centres of the current rhino, tiger
and elephant poaching crises to attend.
The high level summit
will be convened by the UK Government under
Prime Minister David Cameron and attended
by Prince Charles and Prince William.
WWF and TRAFFIC, a joint
programme of WWF and IUCN, have been providing
expert input into the preparatory process
for the conference and reception.
WWF and TRAFFIC believe
that best practice and transparency in the
destruction of ivory stockpiles should transpire
include a robust ivory stock management
system.
Rigorous documentation
of all ivory stocks should be maintained
and a detailed stock inventory of the ivory
to be destroyed should be produced.
Independent audits ensure
that the quantity slated for destruction
actually corresponds to the amount that
is destroyed, providing assurances that
ivory does not find its way back into illegal
markets, further feeding illegal trade.
