Corporate News
Kenya wins key backing for ban on trade in ivory
A ranger shows elephant tusks intercepted from poachers during a commemoration of the 1989 ivory burning at the Nairobi National Park. Kenya has secured the support of 16 African governments in its battle with neighbouring Tanzania over a proposal to allow for controlled trade in ivory.
Posted Tuesday, January 26 2010 at 19:21
The meeting in Brussels was meant to lobby support from the European Union to support Africa’s call for a global moratorium on trade in Ivory at the CITES meeting to be held in Doha in March.
The bloc was represented at the meeting by the Dutch member of EU Parliament Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy.
“The medium term survival of the African elephant is on the line and this is no time for the EU to take a low-key stance. We expect the 27 member bloc to do the right thing,” said Patrick Omondi, the Head of Species Conservation at the Kenya Wildlife Service.
The EU parliamentary delegation to the CITES meeting comprises Mr Gerbrandy, Ms Sirpa Pietikäinen of Finland and Bas Eickhout (Netherlands).
The moratorium mediated by EU at the last COP14 in 2007 stated that no elephant trade proposals would be submitted by any Party to CITES, at least for the duration of the ban.
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