Southern African Nations Say They May Quit Global Wildlife Pact
- Group says CITES decisions driven by ‘protectionist ideology’
- African states say their conservation models proven to work
Zimbabwe has the world’s second-largest population of elephants.
Photographer: Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images
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Southern African nations, where the bulk of the continent’s wildlife lives, are reconsidering their participation in a global pact to protect endangered species.
The 16-member Southern African Development Community objects to rulings against applications made by its member states to ease restrictions on the trade of ivory and white rhinoceros products as well as the banning of exports of wild African elephants. The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, in Geneva.