Why did Namibia want to lift the rhino horn trade ban at Cites?

Namibia proposed lifting the ban to potentially generate revenue for conservation efforts and to trade amassed stockpiles of rhino horns.

What was the outcome of Namibia's proposals at Cites?

Namibia's proposals to lift the international trade ban on black and white rhino horns were defeated by a significant margin.

What are the main concerns about legalizing rhino horn trade?

Opponents fear that legalizing rhino horn trade would stimulate demand, leading to a substantial increase in poaching and further endangerment of rhino populations.

Home / Environment / Namibia's Rhino Horn Trade Bid Rejected at Conservation Meet

Namibia's Rhino Horn Trade Bid Rejected at Conservation Meet

5 Dec

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Summary

Namibia's proposals to lift rhino horn trade bans were defeated.
Black and white rhino populations have seen significant declines.
Concerns remain that legalizing trade would boost poaching.

Namibia's Rhino Horn Trade Bid Rejected at Conservation Meet

Namibia's proposals to overturn international bans on the trade of black and white rhino horns have been defeated at a crucial Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) meeting. The conference, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, voted against these proposals, maintaining existing trade restrictions.

These defeats follow Namibia's earlier proposal to lift the ban on African savanna elephant ivory, which was also unsuccessful. Conservationists opposed the rhino horn trade, arguing that legalizing it would stimulate demand and significantly increase poaching, a concern amplified by historical trade's link to past poaching crises.

Black rhinos are critically endangered, with populations drastically reduced since 1960. Southern white rhinos, while listed as near threatened, have also experienced population declines. Namibia, along with other southern African nations, holds large stockpiles of rhino horns, accumulated largely through dehorning programs, which they hoped to trade legally.