EIA encourages China to remain steadfast in its approach to rhino horn trafficking, to enhance transparency of its wildlife crime enforcement, and to take a leadership role in the global effort to protect rhinoceroses by sharing its experiences and expertise with other countries affected by rhino poaching and illegal trade.
Japan’s regulatory and enforcement actions to date have been inadequate to prevent its domestic market from contributing to the illegal ivory trade. Japan’s market is already being exploited by those seeking to bring ivory out of the country illegally, and will continue to be, as long as it remains open.
Allowing legal trade in rhino horn or ivory from one country has serious repercussions for all wild rhinos and elephants. Namibia’s proposals to CoP20 to trade in rhino horn and ivory stockpiles threaten to reverse decades of global conservation, anti-poaching, and demand reduction progress.
EIA will be actively engaging at CoP20 on a range of key issues relating to the protection of elephants, rhinos, Asian big cats, pangolins and vaquita porpoises, in addition to broader compliance and enforcement issues.
Japan’s domestic ivory market is the largest in the world and should continue to be evaluated for compliance by CITES Parties.
Recent trade data shows that the trade suspension of P. erinaceus has slowed, but not stopped, the export of this endangered rosewood species from its range in West Africa. Evidence from the ground also shows that illegal logging and international trafficking of the species are still taking place across the region.