Cape Town - South Africa’s absence from last week’s major international conference aimed at curtailing rampant poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, has been questioned by concerned conservationists.
But Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa said South Africa could “unfortunately” not be represented at a political level at the two-day meeting because it clashed with last Thursday’s opening of Parliament.
And she revealed that prior political and technical discussions between South Africa and Britain on the conference’s major outcome – the London Declaration – had failed to deliver agreement on a number of fundamental policy matters.
“Among others, this included the intended adoption of parties agreeing not to trade in wildlife products or the sustainable utilisation of natural resources, which would be in conflict with existing South African policy,” Molewa said.
The declaration, agreed by the 42 countries and regional economic integration organisations that were present, recognises “the significant scale and detrimental economic, social and environmental consequences of the illegal trade in wildlife”, and makes “a political commitment and calls upon the international community to act together to bring this to an end”.
The declaration is in line with South Africa’s policy of sustainable utilisation, where it states: “We recognise the importance of engaging communities living with wildlife as active partners in conservation, by reducing human-wildlife conflict and supporting community efforts to advance their rights and capacity to manage and benefit from wildlife.”
But it is at odds with this country’s policy of selling its stockpiled ivory – when approved by international wildlife trade organisation Cites – and of its declared intention of selling some of its rhino horn stockpile, if an application to Cites is approved.
Instead, the declaration endorses the actions of states like the US, China and Kenya, which have destroyed seized contraband wildlife products, and encourages governments that have stockpiles to destroy them.
Concerned conservationists included the Wildlife and Environment Society of SA, which described South Africa’s non-participation at the London conference as “disappointing… and certainly surprising”.
Another conservationist who queried South Africa’s “conspicuous absence” was specialist wildlife guide and photojournalist Ian Michler.
Describing South Africa as “a key player”, he wrote last week: “It’s an extremely perplexing and worrying state of affairs, and questions must be asked of the South African government’s vision, will and agenda.
“One can only hope this is not the beginning of the country’s isolation in this whole affair.” - Cape Argus