Does Destroying Ivory Really Save Elephants?

Africa’s elephant and rhino populations have declined precipitously as the continent’s illegal ivory and rhino horn trade expands out of control. Despite the international ban on the ivory trade in 1989, African governments have failed to address the poaching. In an effort to disrupt the illegal ivory market, African governments’ anti-poaching teams regularly burn intercepted stocks of ivory. Developed countries also commonly burn intercepted ivory. The Brookings Institution’s Mwangi Kimenyi, writing for Newsweek, contests this practice, arguing that it does not reduce illegal trade and, in some cases, might spur demand and poaching. Instead, he advocates for market-based solutions – involving local communities in the conservation of local wildlife. Kimenyi cites Namibia’s communal conservancies as a standard. The conservancies devolve management and ownership rights of wildlife to local communities, which have partnerships with ecotourism operators and establish village councils to manage and protect resources. – YaleGlobal