In July, the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will consider a proposal to allow a one-time export of stockpiled ivory to China by designating China as a "trading partner" for raw ivory from Africa's legal stockpile.
Unfortunately, the illegal trade in ivory products is flourishing in China, and
rising demand for ivory products in China is fueling an increase in poaching of elephants in Central Africa. A
new report shows that the United States is the second largest consumer of illegal ivory products in the world - and these illegal imports come primarily from China.
This sale will only serve to further increase demand, leading to more poaching and more pressure to end the ivory ban - which would be devastating for Africa's elephants.
Send an email today to tell the North American and European members of the CITES Standing Committee to protect elephants by opposing this proposal to designate China as a trading partner for raw ivory.To the members of the CITES Standing Committee:
I strongly oppose the proposal to designate China as a trading partner for trade in raw ivory from the elephant populations of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The resolution amending the Appendices adopted in 2007 clearly states that trading partners must have "sufficient national legislation and domestic trade controls to ensure that the imported ivory will not be re-exported." Despite China's commendable efforts to enforce trade rules, the evidence is clear that China is unable to adequately control the illegal import and export of ivory.
A new study published by Care for the Wild International shows that large quantities of worked ivory are illegally exported from China to the United States. This study shows that the United States is the second largest consumer of illegal ivory products in the world, and that most of these illegal products come from China.
Poaching of elephants in Africa for the illegal ivory market is on the rise, fueled in large part by rising demand for ivory products in China. While all of the world's nations - including, and especially the United States - must address this growing crisis, the Standing Committee must take a strong stand against illegal ivory trade by denying China's application to be designated an ivory trading partner.
