Opinion: China's Ivory Crush Is Important First Step
The latest country to destroy its illegal elephant ivory is doing so to publicize illegal ivory trafficking, but it needs to be backed up with policy changes, author says.
In a surprising step, China this week became the latest in a growing number of countries to publicly destroy large quantities of ivory to bring attention to the global trade in illegal ivory. From any angle, China's move has important and positive implications for the fight against an illegal ivory trade that is killing tens of thousands of African elephants every year.
"Wildlife trafficking has become a serious problem, and illegal trade of ivory and wildlife products is increasing," China's State Forestry Administration declared in a statement to the United Nations explaining its decision to destroy 6.1 tons of its ivory this week. The destruction was conducted "for the purpose of raising public awareness, and demonstrating China's resolve to combat
