Filed under: 350, Americas, Asia, global warming, Renewable Energy

Image Source: Flickr. By: Just Chaos.

For a bit of good news in the Asian animal kingdom, there might be a new member of the Sumatran Rhinoceros family!

A camera set up in Borneo captured a picture of a female rhino on February 25th of this year. Given the size of the rhino, it is very possible that she may have been pregnant at the time. The image is the first ever to be taken of a wild female Sumatran Rhinoceros thought to be pregnant. Raymond Alfred of WWF commented that “the size [of the rhino] is quite extraordinary. Based on the shape and the size of the body and stomach,” it would appear that the rhino is pregnant.

Fifty more cameras have been set up in the area to collect more information about the female. Researchers are also trying to find some of the female’s dung for analysis. The female, believed to be around 20 years old, is one of the last of her kind.

Sumatran Rhinos are currently listed on the IUCN Red List with a critically endangered status. Their population is estimated to be less than 300 in the world and less than 30 in Borneo. Once found throughout much of Asia, they are now limited to Borneo, Sumatra, and peninsular Malaysia. Poaching and habitat loss are 2 major issues they contend with, plus the fact that they are solitary animals (except when mating) and so dispersed does not do well for their numbers. To find out how you can help the rhinoceros, check out these links:

SavingRhinos.org
SOS Rhino
The Rhino Resource Center
Borneo Rhino Alliance

By Heidi Marshall

Image Source: Flickr. By: Jacob.D.Sutton.

I absolutely love to go hiking. The great outdoors is a wonderful place to explore and to go to for some peace of mind. There are so many spectacular views, vistas, scenic areas and landscapes around the world; all of which are definitely worth seeing. Unfortunately, it may be impossible to hike all those trails in one lifetime. So, I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 hiking trails around the world. This list comes from many sources and much research. The trails that have ended up on the list are ones that have been favored the most.

10. The Appalachian Trail
If you live along the eastern side of the US, you’ve probably heard of this trail (or at least the Appalachian Mountains). The Appalachian Trail spans 2,178 miles (3,505 km) from the state of Georgia all the way up to Maine. The nice part about this trail is you don’t have to walk the entire thing. There are many breaks throughout the trail, so if you only want to go several miles instead of the whole grueling trek, you can. It is the first national scenic trail and also one of the three greatest long-distance trails of the US. Throughout your journey on the trail, you will take over 5 million steps, cross through 14 states, and see 8 National Forests and 6 National Parks. Many say it’s the best way to see the eastern states, and I couldn’t agree more.

9. Tour du Mont Blanc
This is one of the most popular trails in Europe; passing through France, Italy and Switzerland. It goes around the Mont Blanc Massif and is about 106 miles (170 km) long with a 6 mile (10 km) ascent. Typically, people walk the trail in an anti-clockwise direction and the walk takes about 7-10 days. Along the trail, you will pass through 7 valleys. There are also numerous stopping and starting areas, plus accommodations available along the trail. The trail also offers several options for hiking—different paths are available for those who want more of a challenge and for those who want to take it easy. This trail is definitely worth checking out if you ever find yourself in Europe.

8. Torres del Paine
This is actually a National Park located in the Patagonia region of Chile (at least 2,500 km–1553 miles–south of Santiago). On this trek, you will see fields of wildflowers, beautiful panoramas, mountains, valleys, and glacial views as far as the eye can see. Andean Condors, guanacos, and foxes are among the many animals that can be seen throughout the park and trail. As with the previous hikes, this one also offers several starting and stopping points. It’s certainly a trek you don’t want to miss.

Image Source: Flickr. By: Rupert Taylor-Price.

7. Mount Everest Base Camp
If you enjoy the cold, this trail is perfect for you. Lukla, Nepal, is your starting point on this journey and the total trek can take about 2 weeks. There are a number of strenuous ways to travel about Mount Everest, though most seem to prefer the “easier” routes, which provide food and rest along the way. As you travel on your journey, you’ll see mountain peaks lost to the clouds above, while wildflowers and homes are scattered about below. Sherpa guides are available if you desire one; though if you go it alone, you can always ask for direction along the way. If you decide to take on this challenge, be prepared for cold temperatures and high altitudes.

6. John Muir Trail
Who is John Muir? He was a naturalist, author, and advocate of wilderness preservation in the US. He saved a number of well-known areas, including the Yosemite Valley and Sequoia National Park, and he also founded the Sierra Club (Hawaii getaway, anyone?). Given his devotion to nature and conservation, not to mention all the things he wrote about them, it’s no wonder one of the best western US trails would be named after him. The trail starts in Yosemite National Park. This 215 mile (346 km) journey will pass through a number of national parks and natural areas. Your destination is the highest peak in the continental US: Mount Whitney, which stands at 14,196 feet (4327 m). Expect to see forests, glaciers, mountains, fields, lakes and even wild animals along the hike. The trail is divided into segments, so you can walk a little bit at a time or do it all in one go (which will take about a week).

5. Monte Fitzroy
This trek is another located in the Patagonia region of South America and also a nice alternative to the Torres del Paine. Located in Los Glaciares National Park, this is one trek you don’t want to pass up on. The distance traveled may vary, as there are a number of routes you can take, but expect an average of 40 miles (64 km) and nearly a week to complete the whole thing. Along the way you will see lakes, mountains, glaciers, spires, and of course, the awesome Monte Fitzroy. Although it may look a bleak, dull, grey color during the day time, when sunset hits you will see a beautiful tinge of red and orange instead—definitely a great photo opportunity!

Image Source: Flickr. By: H2O Alchemist.

4. West Coast Trail
Now we travel north, all the way to Vancouver, Canada. While you may remember this as the location of the 2010 Winter Olympics, it’s also the location of one of the top rated hiking trails in the world. The 75 mile (121 km) long West Coast Trail is part of the Pacific Rim National Park. You will start at Bamfield and travel all the way to Port Renfrew. Along the way, you will see a diverse range of ecosystems, from forests to beaches, and waterfalls to bogs. Designated camping areas are available along this rugged path, and you will be required to cross a few areas by boat, bridge, and even fallen logs. Stopping and starting points are available along the trail if you do not wish to hike the entire way. There are also many wild animals that can be encountered, including bears, wolves and cougars, so be careful! Tidal pools with fish, mollusks and sea anemones can be found at the beach portions of the trail, plus you may catch a glimpse of an orca or sea lion! The trail is only open from May 1st until September 30th, so plan your adventure accordingly!

3. Annapurna Circuit
We are heading back over to Nepal and the Himalayas for this little adventure. The Annapurna is the 10th highest mountain in the world. On this hike, you will pass through 4 regions: Lamjung, Manang, Mustang, and Myagdi. The first and last regions consist of lush subtropical valleys and terraced farming; while in the Manang and Mustang regions you’ll find yourself amongst higher elevations and colder climes. You will pass through the world’s deepest gorge and you’ll also have the opportunity to visit Buddhist villages and Hindu holy sites on the way. The journey can go for about 3 weeks and parts of it are rather grueling. Fortunately, there are lodges and restaurants along this great trail.

2. Mount Kilimanjaro
Although this inactive volcano is located in Tanzania, it is known for its snow-covered peak. Mount Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest free-standing mountain and you have 6 options for hiking about it: Machame, Marangu, Rongai, Lemosho, Umbwe and Shira. There is also the Mweka route, but that is only for descending the mountain. Each of the 6 routes vary in distance and difficulty. If you are up for an adventure and some beautiful scenery, then check out the Machame route. If you wish to go the more popular way and stay in huts overnight, then the Marangu route is your trail. And if you’re up for a bit of danger and excitement, you’ll definitely want to go by way of the Lemosho route, where an armed ranger will accompany you on the first day. It’s on this route where you may encounter elephants, buffalo, and other big game animals. Whichever path you take, this hiking adventure is sure to be a great experience.

Image Source: Flickr. By: Kudumomo.

1. Inca Trail
Finally, we come to the number one hiking trail in the world: The Inca Trail of Peru. While there are many different Inca Trails you can take your journey on, the most popular by far are those that lead to Machu Picchu. The most traveled of these trails is the “Classic”, which starts in Cuzco. On this trail, you will see the ruins of Patallacta, the Incan tambo of Runkuraqay, and a view of Sayaqmarka. Expect to see a river, lakes, and much jungle vegetation on this trek. You will also see an Incan tunnel, mountains and drop offs, and there may be some steep climbs in some areas. Generally, this trek takes several days to complete, though there is also a One Day trek and also the Mollepata—the longest of the 3 main routes. If you plan on doing the number one trail in the world, be aware that going in February is out of the question—the trail is closed every year at that time for cleaning. Also, booking reservations in advance for this trail is mandatory. Why? Only 500 people—including guides and porters—are allowed to be on it per day.

That’s it for the list! I am personally surprised at the number of other great trails around the world that did not make the list, though that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit them, too! However, there are a few honorable mentions also worth mentioning here: The Overland Track of Australia, Ausangate Circuit of Peru, Mount Kenya of Kenya, Tongariro Northern Circuit of New Zealand, and the Haute Route of France and Switzerland are all awesome trails worth traveling, as well. My personal favorite hiking areas thus far (apart from local trails) have been the Grand Canyon and the Red Rocks area of Sedona, Arizona. Both of those places offer amazing desert views that you won’t want to miss!

If you decide to venture out on any of these great hikes (or any others on the planet), remember to leave only footprints and take only photographs!

By Heidi Marshall

Kodama spoke on the eve of the beginning of the G8 Foreign Ministers’ meetings in Gatineau, Canada. He represented his minister s he explained the ebbs and flows of Japan’s climate push, as he said, “Prime Minister Hatoyama and Minister Okada are really the leaders on this issue. The key challenge for us, the Japanese community, is that it’s very important for us to convince our people that climate change counter initiatives are compatible with sustained economic growth.”

That said, Japan still managed to recently successfully pass their own climate change bill, including a commitment of emission cuts a quarter below what they were in 1990 by 2020. Japan is also currently engaged in the G20 discussion of innovative financing as a way to put new money towards development aid and climate change. Canada will debate the next stage of its potential climate change Bill C-311 this Wednesday.

The G8 Foreign Ministers’ meetings continue on Tuesday, March 30.

Filed under: Asia, Canada, Climate Policy, Economics, g8, global warming, Government, International Affairs, Reporting Team

©Stuart Matthews

Guest post and photography essay from photographer Stuart Matthews

In November, 2009, I visited Bangladesh to document the impact of global warming on the country and its’ people. I focused on how NGO’s such as Oxfam Great Britain are collaborating with the communities to develop initiatives like the ‘Cash for Work’ program. This provides an income to the individual workers who participate in developing the climate defenses around their community.

Bangladesh has an extremely vulnerable landscape with 80% of its land made up of low-lying deltaic plains with an altitude of only 10 meters above sea level or less. This land is subject to frequent flooding during the Monsoon season, with large quantities of water flowing down the Jamuna and Padma rivers, causing catastrophic erosion along the banks of a fragile, predominantly silt, landscape.

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© Stuart Matthews

The unpredictable weather shifts have made it hard for the communities of Bangladesh to cope with changing climates. In May 2009 Cyclone Aila tore across the south-western coast of Bangladesh destroying more than 700km (434 miles) of coastal embankments and wiping out thousands of homes, leaving the people marooned or forced to take refuge in shelters. Seven months later the people are still forced to live on the embankments of the rivers.

Workers throughout the country, have been adapting the landscape by raising land and repairing the embankments to combat the rising tides, allowing residents to move back to some of the land that was made uninhabitable by the affects of Cyclone Aila.

I met Sardar Babu, who is one of the 1,300 workers building a 9,500ft Ring Dam in Shekaribari, Koira. This will cross 3 canals and create a barrier against the rising floods during the Monsoon season. In Sardar’s own words: “I am very happy to join this kind of work, I do not see myself as a construction worker, more as a worker for the people of Koira. We are concerned about what the future holds, this dam will allow us to return to our land and rebuild our homes.”

The Shekaribari community have been living on the river embankments since their houses were destroyed by Cyclone Aila in May 2009. Living on these embankments, however, is illegal and many residents have been forced to find shelter elsewhere because of eviction notices from the Bangladeshi Government.

Clearly Bangladesh is on the front line of climate change. My work has therefore been to introduce the viewer to the people that are actually being affected by climate change, every day, and how they are developing their landscape to protect their homes and adapt to the threats that climate change brings.

Click to see slideshow

Filed under: Asia, Climate Justice, global warming, Impacted Communities, Indigenous, photography, South Asia

Image Source: Flickr. By: Tula_7755

In less than 24 hours, a good portion of the globe has been hit with a number of natural disasters. Unfortunately for them, the worst of it hasn’t even happened yet.

Yesterday, Chile was hit by an 8.8 earthquake—one of the worst ever recorded. Homes, highways and bridges were torn apart and at least 214 people have been found dead so far. To make matters worse, that isn’t even the full extent of the damage and the death toll will most likely rise. A 15-story building in Concepcion (Chile’s second largest city) collapsed. The nation’s capital, Santiago, saw damage to parking garages, hospitals and other buildings. The airport also had to be closed due to excessive damages.

That earthquake was only the beginning. To give a further idea of how big it was: People in Sao Paolo, Brazil—some 1,800 miles (2,900 km) to the east—felt the earthquake. And then, reports came of a great tsunami. All across news websites and TV stations, there has been (and still is) non-stop coverage on the quake and tsunami. Anticipated to hit Hawaii around 4 pm (EST), the first surge actually hit shortly after 5 pm. Residents were told to evacuate the islands as the governor declared a “state of emergency” situation. This is the first time in 16 years that Hawaiians have heard the sounds of those warning sirens.

Hawaii was only the first stopping point for the quake-triggered tsunami. Fortunately for Hawaii, it was also a very short stop and the tsunami warning was cancelled. However, those damaging waves made their way across the Pacific and also hit New Zealand and Asia. While no damage has yet been reported from New Zealand, residents were evacuated from the eastern coast. Those who have been keeping track of the surges also claim they are getting progressively bigger—currently they are at 2 m (6.5 feet). Asia, however, has been hit by the biggest waves thus far. French Polynesia and the Marquesas Islands were both hit by walls of water that were 13 feet (4 m) high. There have been some minor damages, but no casualties to speak of.

Then, there is the matter of flooding in Haiti. As if the devastating earthquake that happened last month wasn’t enough, 11 people have died so far from heavy flooding. More than 60 inches (1.5 m) of water were washed into Les Cayes—Haiti’s third most populated city. Hospitals, prisons, and homes were flooded. A number of those homes also collapsed. The casualties happened as people were trying to make their way to safer ground; 5 of which happened when the flood waters overturned their vehicles.

Add on to all of this the crazy winter weather we’ve been hit by this season and it can easily be said that someone has sure made Mother Nature angry. Oh, and we can’t forget the flooding that happened in Portugal, or the landslides in Indonesia and California. Has the weather gotten crazy enough yet for you skeptics to believe that something is seriously wrong with the planet; or does there have to be thousands of casualties added on to the increasing death tolls? If the weather keeps progressing like it has been in the past few months, I hope some people will start taking it as a serious wake-up call, because things will only get worse from here on out.

By Heidi Marshall

Confluence of the Indus and Zanskar Rivers – photo by Baldiri (source: Wikimedia Commons)

In some Asian countries clean water is an increasingly scarce and politically charged resource – and climate change will only make things worse.

Pakistan and India, both reliant on the shared waters of Indus River for irrigation and hydroelectric power, face problems including floods, water shortages, chronically high levels of unsafe drinking water as well as conflicts between and within both nations. The countries of the Amu Darya basin – Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – experience similar problems and conflicts of interest. Take Afghanistan – a war-torn country that suffers from an abysmal infrastructure, internal population displacement, local conflicts, water contamination, droughts and resultant food shortages.

From an article featured on China Dialogue:

Climate change will dramatically raise the challenges in central and south Asia. By the middle of the century, increasing temperatures and growing water stress may lead to a 30% reduction in crop yields. In central Asia, reduced rainfall and runoff will cause increased heat stress, drought and desertification and lead to increasing migration. Yet no mitigation and adaptation strategies are in place.

Regardless of any inaccurate data on the melting rate of India’s glaciers published in the IPCC report, the glaciers of the Hindu Kush-Karakorum-Himalaya mountains are shrinking due to increasingly warmer temperatures. This crisis will affect hydroelectric power generation, agricultural food production and contribute to poverty and inequality.

According to Michael Renner, a senior researcher at the Worldwatch Institute in Washington, DC and senior advisor to the Institute for Environmental Security in Brussels, the countries of central-south Asia are not big greenhouse gas contributors, but are exceptionally vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Their efforts will have to therefore focus on adaptation to cope with water scarcity and other climate-related hardships. Water use efficiency and regional political cooperation must improve in order to meet these challenges. Help from European and UN programs may offer some hope.

by Graham Land

Summary and full report – Water challenges in Central-South Asia by Michael Renner, Norwegian Peacebuilding Centre

These mountains in the depths of district of Chamba in the state of Himachal Pradesh (India) used to have a lot more snow.

In recent times I’ve been reading a lot about climate change not being real. First the climate gate scandal followed by the many articles attacking the IPCC for incorrectly publishing information on the glaciers melting in the Himalayas by 2035. Climate scientists, economics, politicians and business persons are being interviewed left, right and centre.

The question on the lips of the public is – what is the truth? The truth is such an interesting thing – where more often than not, it is a human tendency for a person to believe what they want to hear.

I pose a question to all people who are jumping on the bandwagon of denying the Himalayan glacier melt due to an error made by the IPCC, and denying the existence of climate change. How many of you have been to the Himalayas? How many of you have spoken to the citizens in the mountains of India and Nepal who have spent their whole lives there?

Very few of you – if any.

I do not say this to accuse anyone of being a immoral or irresponsible, however before we make accusatory remarks and write articles of great consequence, we must get our facts straight. I am not a climate scientist, economist, business person or a politician. However I have been to the Himalayas and met some of its people.

I was up near Haridwar, at the foot of the Himalaya’s in northern India only weeks ago, speaking to friends and colleagues who have grown up in the mountains their entire lives. Every single person spoke with sadness at how quickly the glaciers have receded in their lifetime. Some mentioned to me how many of them have had to move homes in search of better soil, because the melting glaciers have meant changes in water access and there for loss of agricultural productivity. For those of you who are farmers, I’m sure you can understand how painful that process can be.

Furthermore, in a recent interview, the Prime Minister of Nepal, Madhav Kumar, spoke about the Himalaya’s melting around Nepal: “The snows are melting. Glaciers, many of the glaciers, Himalaya glaciers, has evaporated, has disappeared. Many glacial lakes are emerging… We have seen many landslides there and no regular land or rainfall there. Droughts and all these problems relating to the health of the people has been seen… And the impact on the mountainous region is much more in the downstream, where 1.3 billion of the population live in India, in Bangladesh. So the problem of Nepal is not only the problem of Nepal’s people, rather the problem of at least 1.3 billion of population.”

And he is right. It’s not only a problem of ice disappearing in the mountains, and sea levels rising. For us in India our major rivers are dependent on the Himalayas, our monsoons are dependent on the Himalayas. Although it is great they won’t disappear by 2035, even the current rate of change is going to be problematic due to the imbalances it creates.

We all make mistakes – we are humans. And if we’re going to focus on the IPCC’s mistake of over estimating the speed of the glacier melt, then we should also focus on the major understimations made by the IPCC on the melting rate of Greenland and the Western Antartic ice shelfs.

It’s easy to ignore reality, and choose which truth we want to believe. Especially when we’re sitting in in the comfort of our homes in front of our television or computer, thousands of miles away from the people that suffer. I understand that the idea of a world without coal and oil is scary to many people, because that is the world we’ve grown up with. However before you write an article or propagate that climate change isn’t real – please come to the Himalayas first. Look at what is happening, and look the Himalayan people in the eyes and tell them that climate change isn’t real. See, we can’t negotiate with mother earth. The people who live with the land and in the mountains know this best. So please don’t negotiate their future.

I’m glad that the Himalayan Glaciers won’t melt by 2035, because now hundreds of millions of people in South Asia have a chance at survival. However we can’t go back to questioning the existence of climate change when so many have already died and suffered. Humans are the same everywhere, they all have families, they all have hearts, and they all grieve when they lose their homes, their livelihood and their loved ones. And that is what climate change is doing. It is destroying families.

Have compassion for these families who have already suffered from glacier melt, and those who face the such threats. The time is to stay strong, think big, and cooperate.

I have faith that humanity will pull through, not only this bout of scepticism, but will also pull through in protecting our planet from irreversible, dangerous climate change.

Filed under: Asia, Climate Justice, Climate Science, Impacted Communities, India, South Asia

Originally published at HindustanTimes.com, written by Chetan Chauhan.

India, Brazil, China and South Africa, together called the Basic countries, on Sunday said the Copenhagen Accord was only a political agreement and not legally binding as being argued by the developed countries.

The four countries also said they will announce their plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by January 31 as agreed in Copenhagen.

Also to shame the richer nations and thus force them to fund climate mitigation in poorer nations, the Basic countries discussed the possibility of providing financial and technical aid to the poor nations.This is in line with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s letter to Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stating that the accord was just a “political agreement” and was not “binding”.

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Danish PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen speaking at COP15

Rasmussen had urged all head of states in his New Year letter to convert the Copenhagen Accord into a legally binding document, a view backed by US and Europe.
 
Singh discussed the accord and prospects of future climate negotiations with the environment ministries of the Basic countries for 45 minutes on Saturday.
  
“The accord is not a standalone document but is an input for the two track negotiating process,” said Environment and Forest minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday after a seven-hour meeting with his Basic counterparts.

“We expect the negotiations on these tracks to conclude successfully in Mexico in December 2010.”

The Accord was agreed to by 26 countries, including the US, Europe and Basic countries but the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a body comprising 193 countries, had only taken note of it.

Some countries like Venezuela, Cuba, Sudan and Bolivia had termed the accord as a document of powerful countries aimed at killing the Kyoto Protocol, which had put the blame, and therefore the responsibility for cleaning up the mess, on developed countries.
 
On Sunday, the Basic countries re-affirmed their commitment to the differentiated responsibility for rich and the developing world and asked the rich countries to release US $ 10 billion in 2010 for the poorer nations to adopt green technologies.

South African Environment minister Buyeliwa Sonjica said that Basic countries were a part of the larger grouping of least developed and developing countries, G-77, and would inform the group of 133 countries about its deliberations.

Also to shame the richer nations and thus force them to fund climate mitigation in poorer nations, the Basic countries discussed the possibility of providing financial and technical aid to the poor nations.
 
“We have decided to support the least development nations in adaptation,” said Carlos Minc, Brazil’s environment minister. The modalities are to be finalized at next meeting of Basic countries in Cape Town in South Africa in April.

The Basic countries also asked United States to take a leadership role in climate change talks and ensure an agreement is signed in Mexico. “They (US) had been lagging behind in Copenhagen,” said Sonjica.

India will give the UN a plan to cut emission intensity by 20-25 per cent of the GDP by 2020 as a voluntary mitigation action by January 31. But there was no decision yet if India should also tell the UP how it plans to meet the target.

“There is some opposition to India submitting a roadmap as it may be seen as providing too much to the western world,” said Environment ministry official.

Mel

]]> http://youthclimate.org/news-from-india-on-the-copenhagen-accord-35935/feed/ 0 http://youthclimate.org/africa-and-asia-ivory-supply-and-demand-34895/ http://youthclimate.org/africa-and-asia-ivory-supply-and-demand-34895/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:00:27 +0000 Graham_Land http://www.greenfudge.org/?p=5231

photo by Stig Nygaard (source: Flickr Creative Commons)

2009 was a banner year for the confiscation of illegal ivory, with 14,000 articles made from the body parts of elephants seized – a rise of more than 2,000 pieces compared with 2007, according to an article in Sunday’s Observer. But this increase is not down to better law enforcement, but rather a growth in the grizzly trade spurned on by soaring ivory prices in East Asia, which have risen from ₤150 ($245/ €170) per kg in 2004 to a whopping ₤4,000 ($6,500/4,500€).

‘At the same time, scientists estimate that between 8% and 10% of Africa’s elephants are now being killed each year to meet the demand. The world’s largest land animal is again threatened with widespread slaughter.’

–The Observer

The issue is complicated: countries such as Tanzania have seen their elephant population almost triple in the past 20 years. Many poor farmers now consider elephants a nuisance and the Tanzanian government would like to see the sale of seized ivory legalized. Yet Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo have experienced more poaching in recent years and are for an extension of the ban on ivory.

According to wildlife trade monitoring network, Traffic:

‘The remarkable surge in 2009 reflects a series of large-scale ivory seizure events that suggest an increased involvement of organized crime syndicates in the trade, connecting African source countries with Asian end-use markets’

–The Independent

Exceptions on the ivory ban have sometimes been allowed. In 2008 a cache of 105,000 tons of ivory from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe was sold to Chinese and Japanese dealers over £15 million ($24.5m/ €17m). It is just this sort of activity which Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo believe increases the demand for ivory, thereby encouraging poaching.

by Graham Land

Additional resources:

The Independent – African countries set for new fight over ivory sales

Chinese medicine, ecology and endangered species