AWF Statement on CITES Proposals 14, 15, 16

Today, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora convened on Proposals 14, 15 and 16 focusing on the African elephant. AWF had called for the rejection of all three proposals in our position and rationale prior to the Convention. 

AWF CEO Patrick Bergin said, "We at the African Wildlife Foundation are pleased to note that on all three of the proposals concerning the fate of the African elephant, the parties have taken decisions today that align with the position and recommendations that we made before the conference. Clearly, it is possible for the international community to make evidence-based decisions, based on pragmatic realities of the trade, and informed by what is best for the elephant across its entire range on the continent.”

AWF is against any re-opening of the international trade in ivory and other elephant products at this time when elephants are facing an unprecedented poaching and trafficking crisis. Reopening such trade in ivory to feed curent unsustainable consumption will further endanger elephant populations across Africa. We urge all African range states and the international community to take a firm position with regards to protecting Africa’s elephants and to put in place stringent measures that will extinguish the insatiable demand threatening the survival of the world’s largest land mammal.