Most of their effort is based on getting the locals in Africa to benefit from the influx of eco-tourism. Villagers, who may in the past have been glad to see the back of large species that trample their crops or compete for land, are persuaded to have second thoughts. If they can have a greater gain from keeping the poachers at bay by milking rich tourists, then the trophy animals have a better chance of survival. All this can work, but the wise-use movement are formed of the traders in endangered species. Most, if not all, the real money is made where the bits end up, in Hong Kong or Japan, and not in the country where the now long-dead animal once lived.
Japan gets a special mention because it heads the list of importers of animal parts.
The convention has a system of classifying animals onto Appendix 1, in which all trade is banned, and Appendix 2, where restricted trade is permitted. Japan wants to move some whales, rhinos, elephants and the hawksbill turtle from Cuba from Appendix 1 onto Appendix 2. In each case, Japan is the recipient nation of the valuable bits. In the last week it has been revealed that Japan has been using its aid programme liberally among the half-dozen tiny nations in the Eastern Caribbean to secure a block vote at Cites in favour of this downlisting policy. It is a tactic Japan has already successfully used at the International Whaling Commission's annual meetings to block further protection of whales and dolphins.