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| Controversial ivory sale to open | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The first officially sanctioned sale of ivory in southern Africa for almost a decade opens on Tuesday. | The first officially sanctioned sale of ivory in southern Africa for almost a decade opens on Tuesday. |
| Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe will auction more than 100 tonnes of ivory from stockpiles to buyers from China and Japan. | Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe will auction more than 100 tonnes of ivory from stockpiles to buyers from China and Japan. |
| The money raised will go into elephant conservation projects. | The money raised will go into elephant conservation projects. |
| Some environment groups say the sales encourage poachers elsewhere in Africa to kill elephants for ivory that can be fed into the illegal trade. | Some environment groups say the sales encourage poachers elsewhere in Africa to kill elephants for ivory that can be fed into the illegal trade. |
| However, data collected by the wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic shows that seizures of illegal ivory fell in the years following the last legal sale in 1999. We are deeply concerned that these sales will open the floodgates to additional illegal trade Will Travers, Born Free | However, data collected by the wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic shows that seizures of illegal ivory fell in the years following the last legal sale in 1999. We are deeply concerned that these sales will open the floodgates to additional illegal trade Will Travers, Born Free |
| The secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the UN body that sanctioned the sale, says it will monitor trade in China and Japan to make sure companies are not mixing illegally sourced ivory with these legal shipments. | The secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the UN body that sanctioned the sale, says it will monitor trade in China and Japan to make sure companies are not mixing illegally sourced ivory with these legal shipments. |
| The ivory trade was banned globally in 1989 because poaching was decimating elephant populations. This and the 1999 sale are the only exceptions. | The ivory trade was banned globally in 1989 because poaching was decimating elephant populations. This and the 1999 sale are the only exceptions. |
| Last week, the internet site eBay banned virtually all products containing ivory after lobbying from animal welfare groups. | Last week, the internet site eBay banned virtually all products containing ivory after lobbying from animal welfare groups. |
| Continental divide | Continental divide |
| The sale was approved in principle in 2002; and at last year's CITES meeting in The Hague, delegates agreed that enough precautions had been taken that the auction could go ahead, with Japan as the sole validated buyer. | The sale was approved in principle in 2002; and at last year's CITES meeting in The Hague, delegates agreed that enough precautions had been taken that the auction could go ahead, with Japan as the sole validated buyer. |
| Earlier this year, CITES decided that China had acted against the illegal trade with enough vigour that Chinese companies could also bid for a share of the stockpiled ivory. Data suggest the 1999 sale did not boost seizures of illegal ivory Looking for clues in the ivory jungle | Earlier this year, CITES decided that China had acted against the illegal trade with enough vigour that Chinese companies could also bid for a share of the stockpiled ivory. Data suggest the 1999 sale did not boost seizures of illegal ivory Looking for clues in the ivory jungle |
| This was contested by some environment groups, which argued that Chinese controls remained lax - a judgement re-iterated this week on the eve of the Namibian auction. | This was contested by some environment groups, which argued that Chinese controls remained lax - a judgement re-iterated this week on the eve of the Namibian auction. |
| "We are deeply concerned that these sales will open the floodgates to additional illegal trade," said Will Travers, CEO of the Born Free Foundation. | "We are deeply concerned that these sales will open the floodgates to additional illegal trade," said Will Travers, CEO of the Born Free Foundation. |
| "For some inexplicable reason some people think that all elephant populations are adequately protected and thriving. Nothing could be further from the truth." | "For some inexplicable reason some people think that all elephant populations are adequately protected and thriving. Nothing could be further from the truth." |
| The issue starkly illustrates the divided fortunes of elephants across Africa. | The issue starkly illustrates the divided fortunes of elephants across Africa. |
| In some range states, particularly those in central and west Africa affected by civil unrest, populations are believed to be declining, partly because of poaching. | In some range states, particularly those in central and west Africa affected by civil unrest, populations are believed to be declining, partly because of poaching. |
| But in southern Africa, decades of protection and management have seen numbers rising by about 4% per year. South Africa has recently approved in principle the use of culling to control populations. | But in southern Africa, decades of protection and management have seen numbers rising by about 4% per year. South Africa has recently approved in principle the use of culling to control populations. |
| class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYIt is a very good idea to sell ivory stockpiles. It will reduce the market value and make it less profitable to poachFasahath Husain, Chennai, India class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5558">Send us your commentsIn this region, conservation groups argue that elephants are safer if local communities benefit financially from looking after them, whether through eco-tourism or the sale of ivory from animals dying naturally. | |
| The 1999 auction raised about $5m for conservation and community projects. But with Chinese buyers also involved, a total bounty of $30m is said to be possible this time around. | The 1999 auction raised about $5m for conservation and community projects. But with Chinese buyers also involved, a total bounty of $30m is said to be possible this time around. |
| Namibia will auction its stockpile of nine tonnes on Tuesday, followed by Botswana's much larger disposal of 44 tonnes on Friday. The South African and Zimbabwean sales take place next week. | Namibia will auction its stockpile of nine tonnes on Tuesday, followed by Botswana's much larger disposal of 44 tonnes on Friday. The South African and Zimbabwean sales take place next week. |
| The 1997 CITES meeting that approved this sale also declared there should be no more for 10 years. | The 1997 CITES meeting that approved this sale also declared there should be no more for 10 years. |
| Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk | Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk |