Economic efficiency, resource conservation and the ivory trade ban

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) trade ban on ivory remains controversial despite a recent decision to permit some exports by three African countries. In this paper, we examine arguments opposing and supporting the trade ban, concluding that the case for maintaining the ban is strong. We demonstrate that permitting some trade is not a panacea because of potential strategic behavior, and that resuming restricted trade gives an impetus to illegal poaching by enhancing the possibility to launder illegal ivory. Analysis of the pre-ban data, and using the approach dynamics for a steady state, indicates that, when trade in ivory is allowed, poaching could drive the African elephant to extinction. The trade ban arrests this path of decline. Thus, care should be taken before lifting the trade ban. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.