Namibia Rhino Horn: New Proposals & Legal Trade Updates

Uzbekistan recently hosted the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), where proposals regarding rhino conservation and potential trade in rhino horn were debated and ultimately rejected.

Namibia’s Proposals for Rhino Horn Trade

Discussions on rhino issues began during the opening week of CoP20, with Namibia presenting two proposals concerning the management of its white and black rhino populations and their national horn stockpiles. The first proposal sought to allow legal trade in white rhino horn stockpiles. While many parties acknowledged Namibia’s strong rhino conservation record, concerns were raised by the EU and its Member States, Kenya, and the United States regarding the potential for stimulating illegal activity and straining enforcement resources.

Several other countries, including Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, China, and Japan, voiced support for Namibia’s proposals, emphasizing the need for sustainable financing for rhino conservation and the potential benefits of carefully regulated trade. A secret ballot on the white rhino horn trade proposal resulted in 31 votes in favor, 70 against, and 18 abstentions, falling short of the required two-thirds majority. The United Kingdom and the United States publicly announced they had voted against the proposal.

Namibia’s second proposal aimed to move its black rhino population from Appendix I to Appendix II, which would also permit legal trade in black rhino horn stockpiles. Support for this proposal came from countries including Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Japan. Zimbabwe highlighted the need for dialogue among range states regarding sustainable financing for black rhino conservation. This proposal also faced opposition from the EU and its Member States, Kenya, the United States, and others, despite recognizing Namibia’s conservation efforts. A subsequent secret ballot resulted in its rejection with 28 votes in favor, 80 against, and 9 abstentions. China stated it had voted in favor, while the EU and its Member States, the UK, and the US confirmed they had voted against.

Save the Rhino supports the decisions made at CoP20. The organization acknowledged the financial and logistical challenges faced by rhino range states but stated that the proposals lacked clear information on essential mechanisms for managing a legal horn trade, including controlling trade within importing countries, preventing leakage into the illegal market, understanding the impact on consumer behavior, and governing sales and verification of trading partners. Concerns were raised that approving the proposals without adequate controls would increase risks to rhino populations.