African Elephant: Proposal 4

Proposal: 4
Proponents: Botswana and Namibia
Summary of Proposal: Maintenance of the populations of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe in Appendix II, with the replacement of all existing annotations with the following annotation:

"The establishment of annual export quotas for trade in raw ivory… in accordance with Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP12);

Trade in raw ivory is restricted to trading partners that have been certified by the Secretariat, in consultation with the Standing Committee, to have sufficient national legislation and domestic trade controls to ensure that the imported ivory will not be re-exported and will be managed in accordance with the requirements of Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP12) concerning manufacturing and trade; and

The proceeds of the trade in raw ivory are to be used exclusively for elephant conservation and community development programmes."

WWF position	OPPOSE
For WWF's full position, including the rationale and further information, please see page 6 in WWF Positions CITES COP14. Download PDF (3.6 MB \| 48 pages)

Other elephant proposals and agenda items

More information

Why is WWF opposing this proposal?

Premature proposal

WWF believes decisions for the approval of any annual export quotas should be considered premature until the CITES Parties have decided that:

the conditions for the CoP12-approved sale have been met
the sale has occurred, and
a period of time (e.g. one CoP cycle) has passed to enable the Parties to consider if there is a relationship between these legal sales and detrimental impact on other elephant populations (through further reports from the Elephant Trade Information System –ETIS– and the Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants Programme– MIKE). This is particularly appropriate given the escalating trend in illegal ivory trade, as evidenced by the ETIS analysis.

Inappropriate without establishment of baseline data

WWF notes that the proposed annotation would permit the establishment of ivory export quotas without reference to the establishment of the baseline data for the MIKE Programme (as exists in the current annotations). WWF objects to the approval of any annual quotas that are not subject to the establishment of this baseline, as has been agreed previously by the Conference of the Parties.

Incorrect interpretation of proposed annotation

The proponents argue that this proposed annotation would result in allowing exports of live animals, hunting trophies, hides and leather goods and opening worked ivory trade for commercial purposes. This is not a correct interpretation of, or in accordance with, Resolution Conf. 11.21 (CoP13) - Use of annotations in Appendices I and II. If the proposed annotation were approved (“with the replacement of all existing annotations with the following annotation”), previous annotations would be null and void, and any exports of live animals, hides hair, leather goods, or worked ivory would be allowed only in accordance with the requirements of Appendix I.