Ivory bids fall on poaching fearsfrom The BBC.co.uk
The UN's wildlife trade organisations have turned down Tanzania's and Zambia's requests to sell ivory amid concern about elephant poaching. The countries asked the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting to permit one-off sales from government stockpiles.
The ivory trade was banned in 1989, but three sales have since been granted to nations showing effective conservation.
A Kenyan proposal to ban all such sales in future years was also defeated.
Most conservation groups were delighted that the Tanzanian and Zambian bids were turned down. But they argue that illegal poaching is the main issue facing African elephants, rather than the occasional legal sale. "Poaching and illegal ivory markets in central and western Africa must be effectively suppressed before any further ivory sales take place," said Elisabeth McLellan, species programme manager with WWF International.
The meeting in Doha, Qatar also turned down a bid to ban trade in red and pink corals from the Mediterranean Sea.
Big thanks to Dieter L for the link and good news!
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