Africa: Illegal Ivory Trade Detrimental to Developing World

Despite international efforts to halt the trade of ivory, the criminalized industry is once again flourishing on multiple continents, according to a new report released by the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS). The findings of the report signal a threat to reverse valuable gains achieved in the elimination of elephant poaching over the last two decades.

ETIS indicates that between 2007 (the last time data was collected) and 2009, over 2,000 seizures of illegal elephant material were recorded by authorities, a sharp increase from years past. The increased rate of poaching, coupled with the large quantities of ivory in individual seizures, suggests that criminal networks are behind the trade and manipulating local populations to increase their profits. The ivory is primarily being harvested in African communities, then being shipped by Asian nationals to their home countries where there is a large market for the material.

Tom Milliken, an author of the report and Regional Director for East and Southern Africa at TRAFFIC International, told MediaGlobal, "These criminal groups are now able, for example, to move large volumes of ivory (up to over six tons) at a single time, demonstrating a well-developed capacity to bring high-level finance and organization to the fore, as well as knowledge of end-use markets and an ability to subvert or corrupt local law enforcement. This challenge has grown steadily more entrenched and greater over time."

Attempts to track elephant poaching are a cooperative effort. The findings of ETIS are managed by TRAFFIC, which is a joint partnership between the World Wide Fund for Nature and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Additionally, the ETIS system is overseen by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Despite the dedication to stopping the ivory trade, it has become a medusa, continuously giving birth to new elements and reaching into previously uncontaminated areas.

"Many of these individuals are in Africa for the expressed purpose of 'making lots of money' and this sometimes leads to illegal activity," Milliken said. "Over the years, criminal networks have grown and become involved in many aspects of illegal wildlife trade, including elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn, abalone and other fisheries products, and timber."

Unfortunately, the impact of ivory trading has not been restricted to elephants and other wild resources. The criminal networks involved in the trade are utilizing locals to help facilitate elephant poaching, and are harming the development of entire communities as a result.

Since criminals in poor African communities recruit locals to kill elephants and carry the ivory, and then ship the material overseas, the effects of the poaching may be "out of sight, out of mind" for those purchasing ivory in the Asian markets. Locals, however, face a different reality.

Once a community is identified as aiding the trade of ivory, it is often shunned, especially by tourists. A cycle soon develops where criminal poaching is necessary to fulfill basic needs, while the international community continues its criticism.

"Poaching goes hand-in-hand with the exploitation of other natural resources, such as mining or timber extraction industries," Milliken continued. "Local communities may participate in these boom-and-bust cycles, for example, hunting out elephants and other species for the wild meat trade and side-line ivory businesses, and then later suffer the consequences of an impoverished environment, the 'Empty Forest Syndrome.'"

Those involved in the monitoring of the ivory trade argue that there are ways to improve protection of elephants and other endangered animals. Naturally, stronger local law enforcement would be ideal. CITES has a process underway, entitled the "Action Plan for the Control of Trade in African Elephant Ivory," which could be more strongly implemented by member states. Those countries that do not restrict any component of illegal ivory trade theoretically face sanctions and severe criticism. However, Milliken noted that no measures have been taken against any offending countries, despite the positive impact they could have.

Alternatively, there are less controversial ways to limit the trade of ivory and other illegal animal products.

Foreign aid being given to African governments could potentially be allocated for natural resource development, with a focus on species preservation. Those that receive the final ivory product, such as Asian countries, could persuade their nationals in Africa to pull back on such illegal commerce, while those in charge of enforcement could coordinate their efforts more closely.

No matter what, the problem persists and more must be done to counter the practice of trading ivory.