UN-backed treaty on endangered species sets strict conditions for future ivory trade

Building on an earlier consensus among most African elephant range states, the 160 countries party to a United Nations-backed treaty on endangered species has agreed to allow limited sales of ivory.

The countries meeting in Santiago, Chile, for a conference on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has conditionally accepted proposals from Botswana and Namibia that they be allowed to make one-off sales of 20 tons and 10 tons of ivory, respectively.

The Convention is considering similar proposals from South Africa and Zimbabwe for 30 tons and 10 tons, respectively. The ivory targeted for sale is held in existing legal stocks that have been collected from elephants that died of natural causes or as a result of government-regulated problem-animal control.

"It is significant that today's decision embodies an African solution to an African problem - the challenge of conserving the continent's wild herds of elephants in an age of growing human needs and population," said CITES Secretary-General Willem Wijnstekers.

The agreement, which only takes effect if formally adopted by the full conference at its conclusion on Friday, requires any future one-off sales to be supervised through a rigorous control system.