Economic efficiency, resource conservation and the ivory trade ban

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) trade b an on ivory remains controversial despite a recent decision to permit some exports by three African countries. In this paper, we examine arguments opp osing and supporting the trade ban, concluding that the case for maintainin g the ban is strong. We demonstrate that permitting some trade is not a pan acea 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 allowe d, poaching could drive the African elephant to extinction. The trade ban a rrests this path of decline. Thus, care should be taken before lifting the trade ban. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.