HARARE – Newly appointed chairperson of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on Wildlife, Professor Patience Gandiwa, says African countries urgently need to rethink their ideas and potential solutions regarding the contentious ivory trade ban.
Gandiwa argued that banning the ivory trade is not a panacea, pointing out that similar bans imposed on other species have not always delivered the desired outcomes.
She said:
“The issue of ivory trade has long been a contentious topic. Currently, there seems to be no one-size-fits-all solution on how we can approach this matter and I believe, through constructive dialogue, we should find practical and sustainable options to explore
“The bottom-line though, we all know that unregulated international trade can push threatened and endangered species to extinction, especially when combined with factors such as habitat loss, human-wildlife conflicts and climate change.
“We also know that banning trade is also not a panacea as such bans have been enforced for several species and did not necessarily yield desired outcomes.
“At the same time there are case studies demonstrating that putting economic value on species can can create significant incentives for its conservation and recovery (the Zimbabwean nile crocodile is a good example), and yet still that approach may not work for other species.”Fastjet Zimbabwe flights
Zimbabwe, for example, which has the world’s second-largest elephant population, has felt the economic and ecological burden of this restriction acutely.
Gandiwa explained that when elephants die naturally or are culled due to human-wildlife conflict, the ivory is collected and stored securely.
She said:
“The country is sitting on over 130 tonnes of ivory, a figure that has grown since the last sale in 2008.
“This situation raises urgent questions about how we can address the stockpiling and the challenges that arise from it.”
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Gandiwa called for greater understanding and teamwork within the African Group of Negotiators on Wildlife.
She said:
“A debate over whether to allow the ivory trade shouldn’t lead to fragmentation among us. If one party opposes the trade for their own reasons while another seeks to justify it, it doesn’t mean either is wrong. Both perspectives are valid.
“What we need to do is recognise these differing views and find workable for solutions that bridge our differences rather than push us further apart.
“This fight isn’t just about ivory; it’s about our heritage, our economies, our environment and the Africa we want, Africa’s Agenda 2063.
“We must present a coherent voice to the global community, showcasing that we seek dialogue over discord.”
She also argued that the debate over the ivory trade ban must continue to evolve.
“We must focus on sustainability and coexistence rather than perpetuating cycles of exclusion/ isolation.
“The implications of these negotiations extend far beyond wildlife; they underscore our commitment to the economic well-being and our communities.”
“Together, we can solve this ivory dilemma under CITES and the current ‘stalemate’ can be resolved effectively through deliberate efforts of the African Group of Negotiators on Wildlife and the CITES institutional infrastructure and robust decision-making machinery.”
