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| China Bans Import of Ivory Carvings for One Year | China Bans Import of Ivory Carvings for One Year |
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| BEIJING — In a move aimed at countering international criticism of skyrocketing Chinese demand for ivory that is decimating African elephant populations, China announced on Thursday a one-year moratorium on the import of ivory carvings. | BEIJING — In a move aimed at countering international criticism of skyrocketing Chinese demand for ivory that is decimating African elephant populations, China announced on Thursday a one-year moratorium on the import of ivory carvings. |
| The State Forestry Administration, which oversees China’s wildlife trade, published a notice of the temporary ban on its website, stating that the agency had stopped issuing import permits for carvings obtained since 1975, when a United Nations convention on international trade in endangered species went into effect. | |
| According to a report in the state-run Legal Evening News, an unnamed forestry official explained that the moratorium was implemented to let the authorities evaluate a ban’s effectiveness in protecting African elephants. | According to a report in the state-run Legal Evening News, an unnamed forestry official explained that the moratorium was implemented to let the authorities evaluate a ban’s effectiveness in protecting African elephants. |
| But international conservation organizations said the moratorium would do little to slow the surge in poaching that has killed 100,000 African elephants in three years, according to a study published last year in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. | But international conservation organizations said the moratorium would do little to slow the surge in poaching that has killed 100,000 African elephants in three years, according to a study published last year in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
| Because the temporary ban prohibits only the import of ivory carvings, it does not affect China’s legal domestic ivory trade, which has prompted an increase in the price of ivory and provides legal camouflage for a booming trade in illicit ivory smuggled into China’s licensed carving factories and stores. | Because the temporary ban prohibits only the import of ivory carvings, it does not affect China’s legal domestic ivory trade, which has prompted an increase in the price of ivory and provides legal camouflage for a booming trade in illicit ivory smuggled into China’s licensed carving factories and stores. |
| “It’s just window dressing,” said Shruti Suresh, a campaigner with the independent Environmental Investigation Agency, based in London. Ms. Suresh dismissed the effectiveness of a temporary ban, saying that it will continue to perpetuate the desire for ivory among wealthy Chinese while stimulating demand for illegal ivory laundering. | “It’s just window dressing,” said Shruti Suresh, a campaigner with the independent Environmental Investigation Agency, based in London. Ms. Suresh dismissed the effectiveness of a temporary ban, saying that it will continue to perpetuate the desire for ivory among wealthy Chinese while stimulating demand for illegal ivory laundering. |
| International wildlife groups have long accused Beijing of deliberately ignoring China’s prime role in the illegal ivory trade, which has soared since officials with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or Cites, permitted China to buy 68 tons of African ivory in 2008. | International wildlife groups have long accused Beijing of deliberately ignoring China’s prime role in the illegal ivory trade, which has soared since officials with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or Cites, permitted China to buy 68 tons of African ivory in 2008. |
| Chinese officials had lobbied hard to win permission for a legal domestic trade in ivory, claiming that it would save elephant herds by flooding the market with approved inventory, thus undercutting poachers. Instead, the slaughter has expanded as the price of ivory in China tripled in just four years from 2010, according to the organization Save the Elephants. | Chinese officials had lobbied hard to win permission for a legal domestic trade in ivory, claiming that it would save elephant herds by flooding the market with approved inventory, thus undercutting poachers. Instead, the slaughter has expanded as the price of ivory in China tripled in just four years from 2010, according to the organization Save the Elephants. |
| “Every metric on the ivory trade has exploded upwards in recent years,” the organization said in a report last year that noted that the weight of seized ivory and the number of elephants killed for their tusks had also increased. | “Every metric on the ivory trade has exploded upwards in recent years,” the organization said in a report last year that noted that the weight of seized ivory and the number of elephants killed for their tusks had also increased. |
| In 1991, China adopted the terms of a 1989 international ban on the commercial ivory trade. Before Thursday’s moratorium announcement, Chinese were permitted to import ivory acquired through legal trophy hunting, and limited personal amounts of carved ivory obtained after 1975 from Zimbabwe and Namibia. | In 1991, China adopted the terms of a 1989 international ban on the commercial ivory trade. Before Thursday’s moratorium announcement, Chinese were permitted to import ivory acquired through legal trophy hunting, and limited personal amounts of carved ivory obtained after 1975 from Zimbabwe and Namibia. |
| The Chinese government has sponsored awareness campaigns highlighting the perils facing elephants, and officials destroyed six tons of illegal ivory last year. Still, many Chinese cling to a traditional fondness for ivory, which is believed to have medicinal properties and is given as gifts in the form of jewelry and carved sculptures. | The Chinese government has sponsored awareness campaigns highlighting the perils facing elephants, and officials destroyed six tons of illegal ivory last year. Still, many Chinese cling to a traditional fondness for ivory, which is believed to have medicinal properties and is given as gifts in the form of jewelry and carved sculptures. |
| “People kill elephants so the ivory becomes more valuable, which will make people live better and happier,” said the owner of the Zhenguan Hall ivory shop in Shanghai, refusing to give his name. “Elephants die anyway. If they become extinct it really doesn’t matter.” | “People kill elephants so the ivory becomes more valuable, which will make people live better and happier,” said the owner of the Zhenguan Hall ivory shop in Shanghai, refusing to give his name. “Elephants die anyway. If they become extinct it really doesn’t matter.” |
| Extinction is a growing possibility. At least 104 tons of ivory were seized globally between 2011 and 2013, equivalent to 15,522 dead elephants, said Ms. Suresh of the Environmental Investigation Organization. | Extinction is a growing possibility. At least 104 tons of ivory were seized globally between 2011 and 2013, equivalent to 15,522 dead elephants, said Ms. Suresh of the Environmental Investigation Organization. |
| Despite China’s pledge that a temporary ban will help the government assess its benefits, Ms. Suresh and other wildlife advocates voiced concern. They fear that the Chinese government, which has openly called for relaxing international ivory trade limits, will use the yearlong moratorium as an excuse to say a ban failed to stop poaching and then call for the reopening of the international trade in ivory at the next major Cites conference, to be held in 2016. | Despite China’s pledge that a temporary ban will help the government assess its benefits, Ms. Suresh and other wildlife advocates voiced concern. They fear that the Chinese government, which has openly called for relaxing international ivory trade limits, will use the yearlong moratorium as an excuse to say a ban failed to stop poaching and then call for the reopening of the international trade in ivory at the next major Cites conference, to be held in 2016. |
| “China can emerge a leader in the fight against ivory trafficking by adopting a total ban on domestic trade in ivory,” she said. “This is the policy change that could actually make a difference for elephants in Africa.” | “China can emerge a leader in the fight against ivory trafficking by adopting a total ban on domestic trade in ivory,” she said. “This is the policy change that could actually make a difference for elephants in Africa.” |