The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
Zimbabwe wants the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES) to use science-driven data and allow countries to trade in their ivory stocks, with the resultant revenues ploughed back to support sustainable conservation efforts.
The country will host the inaugural African Elephant Conservation Conference in Hwange next week.
The conference, which will be attended by 16 African countries, will give a platform to discuss measures to improve elephant conservation.
Addressing a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said the meeting will provide technical scientific research on African elephant conservation and management.
“The nation will recall that Cabinet earlier on approved the hosting of the conference, which is primarily meant to discuss and prepare for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) 19th Conference of Parties (COP 19) scheduled for November 2022 in Panama.
“The African Elephant Conference will also provide technical scientific research on African elephant conservation and management as well as assess the successes and failures recorded in that regard.
“Furthermore, the conference will galvanise support on measures to improve African elephant conservation in Southern Africa and agree on a framework for wildlife management,” he said.
