“While some states such as New York and New Jersey have recently enacted laws banning ivory sales, we are delighted that the President is calling for a national ban – which will help prevent the illegal killing of elephants and the trafficking in their ivory”.
Advertisement
Yesterday, in an announcement made from the Global Entrepreneurship Conference in Kenya, President Obama announced critical, long-awaited regulations regarding the U.S. ivory market.
“This is an issue not just about protecting elephants, but alleviating poverty, spurring economic growth, and fighting off people intent on destroying governments and terrorizing communities”, said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society, in an emailed statement.
President Barack Obama moved Saturday to tighten U.S. rules on sales of ivory from African elephants, aiming to show progress on conservation as he began a trip to the region.
Fortunately, in 2013, the Obama Administration committed to doing something about our country’s role in the growing ivory trade and the ensuing poaching crisis. “The United States has one of the largest markets for ivory in the world and reducing demand here will go a long way toward saving elephants in Africa”.
Known for its safaris, Kenya relies on tourism, which makes up 12% of its economy. This exemption will allow interstate commerce of most instruments with ivory in them, such as violin bows and pianos with ivory keys. The act identifies an antique as an item that is 100 years or older, that is partly or entirely composed of a species listed under the act, and that has not been repaired or modified with any such species after December. 27, 1973. It also must have been imported inside the Usa through one of 13 traditional jacks that were unique.
Baby African elephant in South Africa.
Many buyers can be duped by fraudulent documents. The goal of the new rules is to remove or severely limit the legal avenues that poachers and traffickers have been using to sell what turns out to be illegally obtained ivory.
The proposed rule will be published on July 29 and open for public comment for 60 days. Antique items like musical instruments, furniture pieces and firearms that have small amounts of ivory can continue to be sold. The regulations also would further restrict commercial ivory exports, the agency said without providing details. The move follows a near-complete ban on the commercial ivory trade enacted by the administration past year. Fifteen other states are expected to introduce legislation within the next few years.
Advertisement
“What we need is to send a message to traffickers that this is unacceptable, that you can not get away with this”, Mr Calvelli said.
