國際間瀕臨絕種野生動植物貿易公約「華盛頓公約」(CITES)，1日同意從波札那、納米比亞、及南非輸出60公噸的象牙給日本。此同意案遭到許多有大象分布的國家及保育團體的反對，原因是合法貿易將成為象牙盜獵者的掩護。
CITES常務委員會在本週的3年一次例行會議上，同意象牙買賣，此會議在1日正式展開。波札那允許出口20公噸的象牙、納米比亞10公噸，而南非則是30公噸。
於此3個國家出口象牙一案在2002年即被同意，但條件是必須建立清楚的最新大象數量，與獵補數目基礎資料。
CITES常務委員會認為，這項條件已經達成，因此出口貿易可以持續進行。CITES祕書長韋斯特克（Willem Wijnstekers）表示：「這些可信賴的調查資料可以協助CITES的未來決策，以發展出一套解決方案，讓仰賴大象作為觀光的國家，和以象牙製品獲取收入的國家獲益，以資助野生動物的保育。」
長久以來大象獵捕問題爭論的焦點在於，權衡從象牙買賣得來的收入，能替保育事業、及當地生物族群、和大型瀕危動物帶來的好處多，還是由象牙買賣增加盜獵情形的傷害多。
2005年8月至2006年8月之間，有超過26公噸的象牙被查獲，海關官員估計，尚有90%非法邊境走私未被偵察。
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES, Saturday approved exports of 60 tons of elephant ivory from Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa to Japan. The approval comes over the objections of many African elephant range states and conservation groups who say legal trade will give cover to ivory poachers.
The CITES Standing Committee approved the sales ahead of this week’s triennial CITES conference, which opened officially on Sunday. Botswana will be permitted to sell 20 metric tons of ivory, Namibia will sell 10 tons, and South Africa will sell 30 tons.
The exports from these three countries were agreed in principle in 2002 but were made conditional on the establishment of up-to-date and comprehensive baseline data on elephant poaching and population levels.
The CITES Standing Committee determined that this condition has been satisfied and that the exports may proceed.
"By basing future decisions on reliable field data, CITES can develop an approach to elephant ivory that benefits states relying on elephants for tourism as well as those seeking income from elephant products in order to finance wildlife conservation," said CITES Secretary-General Willem Wijnstekers.
The long-running global debate over elephants has focused on the benefits that income from ivory sales may bring to conservation and to local communities living side-by-side with large and sometimes dangerous animals, weighed against concerns that such sales may increase poaching.
Between August 2005 and August 2006, more than 26 metric tons of ivory were seized, and customs officials estimate that 90 percent of contraband products pass over borders undetected.
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