African nations strike deal on ivory - AFP

Source: Agence France-Presse

African nations strike deal on ivory

1 hour, 3 minutes ago

THE HAGUE (AFP) - African nations on Thursday agreed a
landmark nine-year ban on international ivory commerce
which was immediately approved by a 171-nation UN forum,
officials said.

The ban will go into effect after the one-off sale by four
southern African nations of government-held stock of
elephant tusks, thought to total about 50 tonnes, according
to non-government organisations who monitored the
negotiations.

The agreement, which comes after weeks of sometimes fierce
debate at the 171-nation Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species, was formally submitted by Chad and
Zambia "on behalf of Africa."

"This African solution to an African problem marks a great
step forward for wildlife conservation," said CITES secretary
general Willem Wijnstekers.

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