Beijing, China, 29 May 2015 —The Chinese government indicated today that it was planning to eventually phase out its domestic ivory market.
According to the announcement by the administrator of the State Forestry Administration during the public destruction of 662kg of confiscated illegal ivory, the Chinese authorities will “strictly control ivory processing and trade until the commercial processing and sale of ivory and its products are eventually halted.”
“This is a very positive signal, and WWF applauds the Chinese government’s determination to conserve wildlife and combat the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, including ivory,” said Lo Sze Ping, Chief Executive Officer of WWW China. “This decision will have profound impact on wild elephant conservation and ivory trafficking.”
Today’s destruction of tusks and ivory carvings that were seized since 2014 follows an ivory destruction event held in Guangdong, China, in January 2014 when 6.15 tonnes of confiscated ivory were crushed. Other nations and territories to destroy ivory stockpiles recently include Belgium, Republic of Congo, France, Gabon, Hong Kong, Kenya, UAE and the USA.
“The decision to phase out China’s ivory market as well as today’s destruction of the confiscated ivory are powerful indications of the government’s commitment to support international action against elephant poaching and the illegal ivory trade,” said Zhou Fei, Head of TRAFFIC’s China Office.
“However, ivory destructions should not be an end in themselves—any such events should be followed by actions to ensure countries continue to comply with their international commitments under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to shut down the illegal ivory trade.”
Hiyo ni janja yao tu. Wakupunguza ivory kwenye soko, bei ya ivory itapanda sana! Majangili wa kuua tembo wataongezeka hasa kwenye vitalu vya watu binafsi.
ReplyDeleteTulibinaifisha sehemu za mapori, hayo ndiyo tunavuna sasa! Wenye lapori mwishowe wataua bata atagaye yai la dhahabu.
THIS CHINESE GUYS THEY THINK WE ARE STUPID, THEY TELL US THAT, THEY ARE DESTROYING THE IVORY WHILE INFACT THEY ARE PROCESSING.
ReplyDeleteTHEY THINK WE ARE DRUNK WITH THE ELLUSION WHICH THEY TRY TO IMPOSE TO US.
THESE ARE THE ONCE WHO WILL LAUGH AT US WHEN THE ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS GOES EXTINCT.
WE WILL NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
This is good news enhance enforcement for the sake of species that are already endangered because of illegal trade. This will enable us also to seal the remaining existing loopholes in our institutions.
ReplyDelete