Reopening the ivory trade and resuming commercial whaling in Norway and Japan are two of several controversial issues swirling around the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. At issue are listing decisions that will determine the protection of more than 60 of the world's threatened and endangered species. Plant and animal species are listed under two main appendices. The most endangered species are listed under Appendix 1, which allows trade only in specific cases. Appendix II comprises threatened species that may become extinct if trade is not regulated.
Contention is already in the air over the possible resumption of ivory trading in Africa.
These countries want further authorization to trade more elephant products. Kenya, India and a coalition of conservation groups have objected to South Africa's proposal on the grounds that extending the ivory trade will increase illegal poaching. In central Africa, the situation is more dire because many elephants are being killed for their meat as well as their ivory. Wamithi said an average of four elephants a week are being taken by poachers in the Congo region. Japan and Norway will likely make political waves at the conference with a proposal to resume, albeit conditionally, the hunting of minke and gray whales.