TNAG-2132-FCO40-3047-Hong-Kong-and-the-ivory-trade-1990 — Page 77

ale

We need

ps. impression that

J. Ivens,

Mr. Evans

to take this forward with ODA. I have

an endorsement will be as welcome

I. DOUGLAS-HAMILTON

14, GERTRUDE ST LONDON

SW10 OJN

(Tel 351-1093, 351-3393)

Maritime, Aviation, and Environmental Department,

Foreignand Commonwealth Office,

King Charles Street,

London SW1

funds

3014

21st April 1990

IVORY TRADE INFORMATION PROJECT

Dear Mr Ivens,

We spoke regarding the proposed Ivory Trade Information Project. You asked me to clarify what degree of overlap there would be with similar studies and other organizations, and how we intended to avoid censuring those States which will continue trading ivory under their CITES Reservations regarding the African elephant. The answers are as folllows:

1.

2.

At present the TRAFFIC group is keeping a limited watch on the ivory traders in the Far East so far as they can, and are monitoring official statistics, but no attempts are being made to identify those involved in the illegal trade and to bring them to justice. The concept we have in mind has the full support of TRAFFIC, and WWF and has been endorsed in principal by the African Elephant Conservation Coordinating Group. This group includes African Wildlife Foundation, EEC, IUCN, TRAFFIC, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Conservation International, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and WWF. We would work closely with these parties.

Werecognize that there will be a legal trade that will continue from those countries that took a reservation at the CITES Conference of the Parties in Lausanne last year. The object of the project is not to censure this trade, but to help collect evidence on illegal traders, which may be used by enforcement authorities in upholding their laws. Eliminating the illegal trade is just as much in the interests of those parties who want to go on trading as for those parties want a total ban and we would seek to cooperate fully with them in this respect.

I hope this answers the two points which were raised, and that we might be able to seek Government endorsement and funds for this project. It is important that we should get moving as soon as possible, and identify loopholes in the CITES ban so that illegal ivory traders can be closed down before too much damage is done.

Yours sincerely

Iain Dongles Hamilton

lain Douglas-Hamilton

cc Simon Lyster WWF

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