Elephants are a keystone species. When they thrive, many other animals do, too. Through their daily actions, elephants are vital contributors to a healthy and balanced ecosystem. Their survival is still under threat however, as thousands of African elephants are still poached every year for their ivory. Despite increased restrictions around the world, rules on ivory trade remain confusing and filled with loopholes, thus fueling continued demand.
Before the end of the year, the European Commission plans to introduce stronger measures on ivory trade than ever before, which is excellent news for elephants. The revised legislation and new EU guidance will considerably restrict domestic ivory trade, as well as imports and re-exports of raw and worked ivory. Only a few exceptions for antiques and some musical instruments will remain.
While this new legislation is not predicted to be a full ban on ivory trade, it shows the EU is finally taking responsibility for the death of thousands of elephants due to poaching.
Despite increased restrictions around the world, rules on ivory trade remain confusing and filled with loopholes, thus fueling continued demand.
IFAW has played a lead role in conservation efforts for many decades, initiating discussions that ultimately led to what today is known as the European Union Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking. Since then, IFAW spearheaded efforts to fight ivory trade and wildlife trafficking, advocating for the Action Plan to be adopted in 2016. This work led to restrictions in ivory trade in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. The U.K. ivory ban is considered the strongest in the world, but disappointingly, it remains yet to be implemented today.
While we collectively can be proud of this milestone and celebrate the fact that the European Commission has stepped up, the work must continue. Elephants are still under threat, and the passing of new restrictions is just one step toward the protection that is needed.
While we collectively can be proud of this milestone and celebrate the fact that the European Commission is stepping up, the work must continue. Elephants are still under threat.
The devil (opportunity) is in the details
At close look, the provisions within these new guidelines are not legally binding. Yes, experience shows that previous EU guidance such as those on rhino horn and raw ivory trade were indeed implemented by member countries, but it is crucial that the same happens now. We urge the Commission to rigorously monitor all levels of implementation in the coming months and promptly address potential shortcomings and lack of enforcement.
There are now several upcoming opportunities for the EU and member countries to demonstrate their commitment to protecting elephants and all wildlife, and together help to safeguard the world’s biodiversity. Most urgent is the long-overdue renewal of the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking, which the Commission agreed to strengthen but has not acted on yet. It is crucial that the new Action Plan builds on the achievements and addresses shortcomings builds on the achievements and address shortcomings.
In 2019, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) warned that a million species were threatened with extinction, one of the main drivers being direct exploitation. It called for “transformative changes” to restore and protect nature¹. By enacting precautionary measures, the EU can still adhere to the One Health approach, which highlights the critical connection between the health of nature and human health.
“There are now several upcoming opportunities for the EU and member countries to demonstrate their commitment to protecting elephants and all wildlife.”
The Commission is also now expected to revise the Environmental Crime Directive. This should guarantee that member countries effectively apply dissuasive and harmonized penalties against environmental crime, while also promoting cross-border cooperation and information sharing.
Ultimately, we need to see more political will and faster action as we race to tackle climate change and large-scale biodiversity loss.
Not all trade is in person
For the EU to show further commitment, it should also take a firmer stance on wildlife cybercrime. The world’s most-endangered species are under threat from online trade. The scale and anonymous nature of online trafficking make it essential that tech companies and national authorities take charge in detecting and disrupting online wildlife criminals.
As a founding member of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online, IFAW continues to engage with prominent service providers to take quick and effective action to remove illegal wildlife products such as ivory from their platforms. In addition, our Cyber Spotter initiative trains citizens on how to identify and report suspicious listings online — a critical tool in the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) that is currently being prepared. We urge MEPs to support amendments to the DSA proposal that include stricter and more harmonized rules, and establish clear liability for marketplaces that will lead to greater protection from harmful or illegal trade. A dedicated EU Code of Conducts and Guidance on wildlife cybercrime would make the detection and enforcement of illegal wildlife trade easier for all member countries.
Room to roam
The alarming surge in poaching and trafficking of protected flora and fauna species affects not just biodiversity, but it also undermines the rule of law, affects economies through loss of revenues, and endangers the physical and food security of local communities.
If the rates of habitat loss and fragmentation due to human development and climate change continue, combined with deaths from poaching, we will lose Africa’s elephants in the next 40 years. To protect elephants and the people who live alongside them, IFAW endeavors to secure land for safe pathways. We are working on the ground with governments, communities, landowners and wildlife rangers to create the room elephants need to roam.
The EU Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 lays the framework for action the EU should take in the next 10 years to fight climate change and biodiversity loss. As the EU pushes for increased global commitments, it should ensure the connection to wildlife trafficking is recognized. To achieve the 30×30 goal (30 percent of land and sea protected by 2030), the EU must put green diplomacy and dedicated financing at the heart of its work.
With these new EU restrictions on ivory trade, the EU demonstrates it can do the right thing, but it must continue to act for wildlife — and fast — on a global scale. This is vital if we wish to protect elephants and other wildlife species for future generations.
Now is our time to come together as a region and let our actions speak loudly to help people and animals thrive together.
¹IPBES (2019). Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. E. S. Brondizio, J. Settele, S. Díaz, and H. T. Ngo (editors). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany.
Source: Politico
