Saving Elephants by Making Expensive Art

(Photo: TRAFFIC)


http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/06/15/crafting-solution-ivory-trafficking-china

JUN 15, 2015John R. Platt covers the environment, technology, philanthropy, and more for Scientific American, Conservation, Lion, and other publications.

How do you persuade ivory buyers in China not to spend their money on illegally trafficked elephant parts? Here’s one answer: Give them something just as good instead.

That’s the not-so-nutty idea behind a new “green collecting” campaign that aims to replace ivory carvings with artworks that are just as impressive but are produced using sustainable materials such as ceramics, crystals, and, believe it or not, tiny nut shells or fruit pits.
In addition to being greener, the campaign by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, encourages craftspeople to produce beautiful artworks that have the same high cultural value as ivory but that can be produced “without the reputational cost” of trading in illegal wildlife products. Reputation, known as “face,” is extremely important in Chinese culture, and campaigners are currently working to dispel the belief that owning wildlife products creates social prestige.

Some of the products displayed at a recent event include ceramic elephants, amber sea turtles, wooden bears, and intricately carved nuts depicting figures from Chinese culture.




FULL story at link.