Is China Secretly Poaching Elephants in Africa?

Let’s talk about elephant poaching in Africa. First of all, there is not a single African country where you won’t find a footprint of China. Over the last two decades, China has been expanding its territory to Africa in small but sure steps. In the past, Africa would have easily pass as a United States or European Union playground. For instance, the USA has had several army bases in Africa which ‘collaborate’ with local armies to fight terrorists or restore order in times of war. One of the largest is Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti which oversees the Horn of Africa. Likewise, the EU has been a major trade partner.

One Belt One Road

The script, however, reads a bit different today. Africa is gradually turning its face to the east. China to be specific. The country has also considerably gained access to major African economies. It is now almost impossible to talk about development in Africa without mentioning China, a trend that seems to worry the westerners. Through its One Belt One Road initiative, the world’s second-largest economy has made notable regional trade ties in Asia, Europe, and Africa. The aim has been to develop infrastructure and enhance cultural exchanges.

In Africa, the initiative has led to China undertaking massive projects in many countries. For instance, in the year 2009, the Chinese government and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) signed an agreement where China would build more than 9600 km (6000 miles) of road and railways. The project dubbed the North-South Corridor would run across seven countries and was estimated to cost about 1 billion USD. Similar large-scale projects are already happening or are set to begin in other African regions. Africa in return has provided a huge market for Chinese products. Literally almost everything has a ‘Made in China’ sticker; from electronics to fabrics, food, and wood.

Despite being a resourceful partner, China has been accused of giving with one hand while taking with the other. This is because since its significant entrance to Africa, massive elephant poaching started being reported. Apparently, China has the world’s largest ivory market. It also has licensed ivory retailers and carving factories. Approximately 30,000 elephant are being killed yearly for their tusks. The tusks are then taken to China where there’s a lucrative market.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:https://www.crowdh.com/china-secretly-elephant-poaching-africa/

Ex-undercover investigator urges more fellow Chinese to fight ivory trade

Undercover investigator Huang Hongxiang could almost smell the grim consequences when his bag carrying a hidden camera was opened by a villager in Vietnam, where almost everyone in the hamlet had a finger in the pie of the illegal ivory trade.

Huang, 29, was in the country last year to document how rampant the illegal business was by meeting smugglers and wearing his pinhole camera.

“If he ever looked closer, things could have been very bad,” the avowed animal-lover said as he stacked up three smartphones to illustrate the gadget’s size.

That was the most dangerous of Huang’s encounters during his career in wildlife crime investigation dating to 2013. His exploits took him to more than a dozen countries spanning Africa, Asia and Latin America.

But Huang retired from the field after deciding to show his face in The Ivory Game, a documentary made last year depicting the blood-soaked paths of elephant poaching and ivory trading. The film was co-produced by movie star and UN climate change ambassador Leonardo DiCaprio.

To read the full article, click on the story title

Hong Kong ivory ban bill makes exceptions for antique objects

Amendments to Hong Kong’s Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Bill were launched last month in the territory’s Legislative Council.

The bill, which is still in the process of being enacted, aims to ban the import and export of worked and raw ivory by 2021.

However, although the bill is stricter on modern elephant ivory, a clause stipulates that trade in antique elephant ivory from before July 1925 will still be possible.

British Art Market Federation chairman Anthony Browne said: “This indicates there is consensus, following decisions in mainland China and Europe, that there should be special arrangements for antique works of art containing ivory of cultural and artistic significance.”

The 1925 date is used in Hong Kong as it is 50 years before the CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) agreement came into force in July 1975.

Different countries use different dates - for example in the UK and Europe the date used to determine antique works of art containing ivory is 1947. In China the date is 1949, which is the date the People's Republic of China was founded.

At the end of 2016, China announced its plans to issue a ban on the trade in domestic ivory by the end of 2017.

Demand for ivory in Asia has fuelled the illegal trade and the slaughter of thousands of elephants each year in Africa.

UK trade associations representing the art and antiques sector, although supportive of steps to end the illegal trade in poached modern ivory, argue the case to allow the trade in antique objects containing ivory.

Associations believe the trade in genuine antiques and works of art with ivory elements does not support the illicit market for poached ivory.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2017/hong-kong-ivory-ban-bill-makes-exceptions-for-antique-objects/

China Poised to Close Ivory Factories

NAIROBI, KENYA —
China is preparing to shut down ivory factories Friday. It is the first phase of the government’s plan to end all domestic ivory trade this year. Kenyan conservation group Save the Elephants says that commitment has already had some impact.

Save the Elephants says the wholesale price of ivory in China dropped up to 60 percent in the last three years. The Nairobi-based conservation group says in 2014 a tusk sold wholesale for $2,100 per kilogram. In February of this year, an ivory tusk was sold at $700 per kilogram.

Save the Elephants researcher Esmond Martin did the study, which was released Wednesday in Nairobi.

“The government of China announced in December last year, 2016, it was going to close down the ivory factories, the legal ones and illegal shops,” Martin said. “So what we found was many of the shops are now, are diversifying, getting out of ivory, moving into other materials.”

To read the full article, click on the story title

China to shut down all ivory factories, retail stores in 2017

China has shut down 67, or one third its ivory factories and retail stores, and will shut down the remaining 105 by the end of the year, according to the State Forestry Administration on Friday.

To further the protection of wild elephants, the administration said that the unsold and unprocessed ivory items can be transported to the remaining 105 factories and stores, but December 31 will be the last day of operations for the sale of ivory.

“The rest of the raw materials will be used in non-commercial activities, for example, restorations of antiques in museums,” said Zhang Dehui, Chief of Wildlife Conservation Division under the State Forestry Administration.

China’s ivory ban has led to a sagging illegal ivory market in recent years.

“China has been spearheading the effort to close its ivory market. This will help reduce the pursuit for profit in ivory and quash its consumption demand. Meanwhile, it will encourage other developing and developed countries to further clamp down on their relevant domestic ivory markets in a bid to save the wild elephant population,” said said Wang Aimin, Country Program Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society China Program.

China used to account for about 70 percent of the global ivory market, but it wants to honor its commitment to the protection of elephants.

“There are many other countries that still allow ivory processing and sales for commercial purposes. And commercial hunting of African elephants is not prohibited in some countries. We hope that these countries will evaluate their current policies on elephant protection and take further action,” said Zhang.

The State Forestry Administration said China has provided 10 million dollars to African countries for the protection of elephants and other wildlife. And more training programs will be launched by China for African countries in law enforcement to protect the threatened species this year.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://tvcnews.tv/2017/04/03/china-to-shut-down-all-ivory-factories-retail-stores-in-2017/