The ivory trade and the future of the African elephant: summary of the interim report of the Ivory Trade Review Group

Abstract

Summarizes the interim ITRG report, as presented to the African Elephant Working Group meeting in Botswana July 1989, in terms of looking at the fall in elephant numbers and the effect this has on the elephant herds, the ivory exports from Africa the effects this trade has on elephant numbers, the economics of the trade, the demand for ivory and the other values of elephants are reviewed. The structure of the trade and the policy options, which might reduce the trade to a sustainable level, plus conclusions and recommendations arrived at thus far are discuss. Authorship could be attributed to Stephen Cobb, coordinator of ITRG..