Tanzania, Zambia want ivory sale

2010-03-22 16:24

Doha - Tanzania and Zambia are requesting a UN conservation meeting tp approve one-off sales of their ivory stocks, despite criticism from conservationists that they are not doing enough to crack down on poaching which has intensified in recent years.

A counter-proposal presented on Monday at the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or Cites by Kenya and six other African countries called for halting the limited international trade in African elephant ivory that is currently allowed and a 20-year moratorium on any proposals to relax international trade controls on African elephants.

A global ban on ivory in 1989 halted widespread poaching but it has steadily worsened since 2004, mostly going to Asia to be carved into chopsticks, statues and jewellery.

- AP