South Africa reaffirms commitment to ban on ivory and rhino horn trade ahead of CITES COP20
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said it would not support any move to lift the global ban on ivory and rhino horn trade.
Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers
South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has dismissed reports suggesting that the country intends to support reopening the international trade in ivory and rhino horn.
The department reaffirmed its commitment to the global ban on ivory trade and rhino horn trade ahead of the upcoming CITES COP20 summit.
In a statement, the department said: “South Africa remains fully committed to the international ban on commercial trade of ivory and rhino horn. Our policy is guided by science, ethics, and global cooperation, not by commercial interest.”
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, emphasised that South Africa would not back any move to resume the ivory or rhino horn trade.
“South Africa will not support any move to reopen the ivory or rhino horn trade. Our duty is to protect our wildlife, not to profit from their destruction,” he said.
Collaborative efforts against poaching
The DFFE stated that the country’s approach to elephant and rhino conservation is grounded in sustainability, protection of biodiversity, and support for communities who live alongside wildlife.
It added that South Africa continues to work with regional and international partners to combat poaching, dismantle trafficking networks, and strengthen wildlife law enforcement.
“South Africa has a proud record of responsible conservation management under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),” the statement read.
The department said its participation in CITES processes aims to protect species, maintain ecological integrity, and ensure that conservation delivers long-term social and economic benefits.
Concluding, the DFFE said: “Any suggestion that the Department seeks to weaken international agreements or undermine collective conservation efforts is without basis. The DFFE’s priority is clear: to secure a future where elephants, rhinos, and people can thrive together.”