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Namibia against blanket ban on ivory market

Xinhua, September 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Namibian government said it did not support the motion to close ivory markets as it is a national sovereign right for a country to decided what to do with its natural resources.

Briefing the media in Windhoek Monday, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said they would rather have the ivory market regulated.

Thus Namibia would not support the proposed blanket ban on ivory market during the upcoming 17th session of Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) scheduled to be held from Sept. 24 to Oct. 5 in Johannesburg, South Africa, he said.

"We have the interests of rural communities at heart, with elephants being one of the most important and valuable assets," Shifeta said.

Namibia, Shifeta said, has been consistent over the years on CITES issues as laid down in the Constitution on how to use wildlife resources sustainably to the benefit of all people.

"We have a good record of effectively implementing CITES and our wildlife populations are thriving. We also have one of the best examples in the world of community-based conservation and there is even more wildlife on State land," he said.

Shifeta said while Namibia is currently not conducting any ivory trade, it can offer some solutions to pressing problems including the financing of conservation. Endit