Namibia and India can jointly support the trade in ivory at the International Trade in Endangered Corporation (CITES) convention meeting on flora and fauna. However, India has not clarified its stand.
Image Credit source: PTI
Namibia with Cheetah Project during, India have agreed to promote the “sustainable use and management of biodiversity” by supporting progress in this area of bilateral cooperation. Namibia and India together with International Trade in Endangered Corporation (CITES ) will support it in the convention meeting on flora and fauna. Without using the word ‘ivory’ directly, Namibia has asked India to support ‘sustainable management’ at CITES. Which allows Namibia’s long pending proposal. The proposal seeks permission to support the trade in ivory found in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
India has supported a complete ban on the ivory trade since 1980. In such a situation, if India supports it, then it will be a big step for India. It will be put up for vote again at the convention to be held in November. In the case of lifting the ban on ivory in India’s 19th CITES conference, CITES Management Authority SP Yadav said on behalf of India, ‘We are still working on India’s stand.’ Let us tell you that this conference is going to be held in Panama next month.
Namibia seeks support
The side of Namibia in this whole matter is completely clear. Romeo Muyunda, PRO of the Ministry of Environment of Namibia, told the Indian Express that, ‘It would be great if Namibia and other regional countries get permission to trade in ivory. We have asked India to support it. Another country is also supporting us. This will increase our chances of being successful. ,
Elephant key issue in the project
On behalf of India, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav signed ‘Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Biodiversity Use’ under the Cheetah Project with Namibian Deputy PM Netumbo Nandi Nadeitwah. Yadav had called it historic. However, this agreement has not yet been made public by the government of both the countries. An official at the Cheetah project said, “Elephants were a key issue in the middle of the deal.” He further said, ‘Time was given in drafting and direct reference has been avoided to keep it open-ended.’
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