International Trade In Ivory

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BRIEFING MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY THROUGH: E – Under Secretary Hormats FROM: OES – Assistant Secretary Jones SUBJECT: International Trade in Ivory The primary threats to African elephants as a species are loss of habitat and human predation. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), hunting for ivory and meat historically has had the greatest impact on elephant populations in Africa. However, the IUCN believes that habitat loss and fragmentation may now be a greater threat than predation, as human settlements expand and international trade in ivory has been restricted. The African elephant is listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN’s Red List of endangered species (the third highest level of risk). The IUCN estimates that about two thirds of Africa’s elephant populations are growing and about one third are in decline. Increases in reports of human-elephant conflict suggest the future of the species would be in jeopardy in the absence of serious and sustained conservation efforts. The ban on international trade in ivory is the most effective international conservation measure. However, this ban has been relaxed in recent years. International trade in ivory is governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In 1986, states party to CITES attempted to implement a management system to control the trade. Widespread poaching and smuggling undermined this initiative and in 1990 CITES members agreed to list African elephants in Appendix I of the Convention. The Appendix I listing created a legally-binding obligation for all CITES parties to stop international commercial trade in elephants or products made from them. Most elephant range states complemented the CITES action with domestic trade bans, establishing a global ban on trade in ivory. Implementation of the ban proved

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