Ivory trade ban to remain
Dec 05, 2002
Speaking at the opening of a wildlife art exhibition at the Uganda German Cultural Society to mark 50 years of national parks, John Nagenda, the chairman of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) board, re-affirmed Uganda’s total ban on export of elephants
By Edris Kisambira
Speaking at the opening of a wildlife art exhibition at the Uganda German Cultural Society to mark 50 years of national parks, John Nagenda, the chairman of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) board, re-affirmed Uganda’s total ban on export of elephants and ivory.
Nagenda said, “some people are worried about elephants. The view of UWA and that of government is that we insist on staying on appendix one until there is documentary evidence to show that we can move to appendix two. We still stand on our feet with a total ban on export of elephant products.â€
The United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) recently approved renewed trade in elephant ivory after a 14-year ban.
Nagenda warned against killing park animals, saying they would be tough on traffickers in wildlife products.
“In one of our parks, somebody was given a concession to train our people. He has instead, under the cloak of darkness, started killing our animals. He has become a hero because he was giving the residents in the area some meat, and he has powerful friends. I will not allow this to happen under my chairmanship. We are not going to squander our wonderful resources,†Nagenda said.
Speaking at the opening of a wildlife art exhibition at the Uganda German Cultural Society to mark 50 years of national parks, John Nagenda, the chairman of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) board, re-affirmed Uganda’s total ban on export of elephants and ivory.
Nagenda said, “some people are worried about elephants. The view of UWA and that of government is that we insist on staying on appendix one until there is documentary evidence to show that we can move to appendix two. We still stand on our feet with a total ban on export of elephant products.â€
The United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) recently approved renewed trade in elephant ivory after a 14-year ban.
Nagenda warned against killing park animals, saying they would be tough on traffickers in wildlife products.
“In one of our parks, somebody was given a concession to train our people. He has instead, under the cloak of darkness, started killing our animals. He has become a hero because he was giving the residents in the area some meat, and he has powerful friends. I will not allow this to happen under my chairmanship. We are not going to squander our wonderful resources,†Nagenda said.