KAZA Summit 2024: African Nations Challenge Ivory Trade Ban

KAZA Summit 2024 and Wildlife Product Trade

Why in News?

KAZA-TFCA Initiative

  • The Kavango-Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area spans five southern African nations: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
  • Covering the Okavango and Zambezi river basins, about 70% of KAZA land is dedicated to conservation, comprising 103 wildlife management areas and 85 forest reserves.
  • This region is home to over two-thirds of Africa’s elephant population, approximately 450,000 elephants. Botswana (132,000) and Zimbabwe (100,000) alone hold significant portions of this population.

Conservation Challenges

  • KAZA-TFCA faces significant challenges in managing its vast wildlife resources.
  • The large elephant populations in Botswana and Zimbabwe, in particular, create complex conservation and management issues.
  • Human-wildlife conflict, habitat degradation, and funding for conservation efforts are ongoing concerns for these countries.

Historical Dispute with CITES

  • At the 2022 Conference of Parties in Panama, southern African countries advocated for legalizing the ivory trade to finance conservation and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
  • Despite their significant elephant populations and related challenges, their proposal was rejected.
  • These countries accused CITES of prioritizing anti-trade ideologies over scientific conservation methods.

CITES Restrictions

  • CITES, established to regulate international trade in endangered species, has strict regulations on the ivory trade to protect elephant populations.
  • However, countries with large elephant populations argue that these restrictions hinder their ability to manage wildlife effectively and fund conservation efforts.
  • The economic potential of ivory stockpiles remains untapped, leading to frustration among KAZA-TFCA member states.

Key Issues Discussed at the KAZA Summit 2024

Economic Pitfalls of CITES Restrictions

  • Delegates at the Livingstone Summit emphasized the economic drawbacks of existing CITES restrictions.
  • They argued for the rights to sell wildlife products, highlighting the economic potential of ivory stockpiles and the impact of CITES restrictions on conservation funding.
  • The ban on ivory and wildlife product trade affects the ability of these countries to generate revenue for wildlife management and conservation initiatives.

Elephant Mortality and Economic Potential

  • The KAZA summit 2024 highlighted the high elephant mortality rates and the loss of economic potential due to the inability to sell ivory.
  • Delegates argued that decisions regarding wildlife product trade should be based on scientific evidence rather than populism and political agendas.
  • They advocated for a more balanced approach that considers both conservation and economic needs.

Calls to Exit CITES

  • There were renewed appeals at the summit for KAZA member states to exit CITES. Proponents suggested that leaving CITES could prompt the organization to reconsider its stance on wildlife product trade or empower KAZA states to manage their wildlife resources autonomously.
  • This potential exit reflects the growing frustration with CITES and the desire for more control over wildlife management.

Exploring Alternative Markets

  • In response to increasing restrictions on trophy hunting imports by western countries, Zimbabwe and other KAZA states are exploring alternative markets, particularly in the East.
  • Trophy hunting, which involves selectively hunting wild animals for body parts like antlers or horns, serves as a significant revenue source for conservation. Finding new markets could help offset the economic impact of declining trophy hunting imports.

Understanding Ivory and Wildlife Product Trade

What is Ivory?

  • Ivory, primarily sourced from elephants’ tusks, is a durable material composed mainly of dentine and encased in resilient enamel.
  • Both male and female African elephants have tusks, while only some male Asian elephants do.
  • The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) highlights the issue of ivory poaching, noting that “ivory” also encompasses materials from other species like mastodons, mammoths, hippos, narwhals, and walruses.
  • These materials are regulated by various laws, including CITES, to prevent illegal trade and poaching.

Causes of Wildlife Product Trade

  • Several factors drive the wildlife product trade, including organized commercial illegal sourcing, black market demands, supplementary livelihoods, corruption, cultural roots of poaching, and the existence of legal markets. Organized crime often engages in remote operations, exploiting power dynamics and money laundering avenues.
  • Black markets can create new demands for rare and endangered species, making illegal trade appealing to buyers. Additionally, many people involved in wildlife trafficking are driven by economic necessity, seeking to supplement their livelihoods.

Corruption and Legal Market Challenges

  • Corruption significantly undermines efforts to combat wildlife trafficking, ranging from bribery at inspection points to influence over permit issuance and legal decisions.
  • The existence of legal markets for wildlife products complicates efforts to distinguish between legally sourced and illegally poached items.
  • For example, Japan’s significant legal ivory market presents challenges in regulating and recognizing the origins of ivory products.

Legal Frameworks for Wildlife Conservation

Global Wildlife Conservation Efforts

  • Various international agreements and organizations contribute to global wildlife conservation efforts. These include:
    • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
    • Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
    • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
    • The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC)
    • United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)
    • International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
    • Global Tiger Forum (GTF)

Legal Framework in India

  • India has implemented several laws to protect its wildlife, including:
    • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
    • Environment Protection Act, 1986
    • The Biological Diversity Act, 2002

Conclusion

  • The KAZA Summit 2024 highlighted the ongoing tensions between southern African nations and CITES over wildlife product trade.
  • The economic and conservation implications of the existing trade restrictions were a focal point of the discussions.
  • While the call to exit CITES underscores the frustrations of KAZA states, it also highlights the need for more nuanced and scientifically grounded approaches to wildlife conservation.
  • Balancing economic needs with conservation goals remains a complex challenge, requiring collaborative efforts, effective funding, and robust legal frameworks.

People also ask

Q1:  What is the KAZA Summit 2024 and why was it in the news?
Ans: The KAZA Summit 2024 is a meeting of leaders from the Kavango-Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA) countries. The KAZA Summit 2024 focused on the ongoing dispute between these countries and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) regarding the trade of wildlife products, particularly ivory.

Q2:  Why do KAZA countries want to sell ivory?
Ans: KAZA countries argue that selling stockpiled ivory could generate revenue to fund conservation efforts, reduce human-wildlife conflict, and potentially lessen elephant poaching. They believe CITES restrictions hinder their ability to manage their wildlife resources effectively.

I, Dhvani Trivedi, am a content writer dedicated to delivering clear, concise, and informative content on current affairs and a wide range of topics. My mission is to provide engaging material that meets your information needs and keeps you inspired throughout your learning journey. My content is designed for everyone, whether you're a student, a professional, or simply someone who loves to stay informed.

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