World Wildlife Fund - Annual Report 2007 - (Page 41)

which are used in health tonics and medicinal products. We believe that reopening this trade would create incentive for increased poaching of wild tigers. This threat is so great that 35 leading conservation groups - including WWF and TRAFFIC - formed the International Tiger Coalition. To let delegates know that the world was watching, we created a giant tiger photomosaic containing 30,000 photos from individuals around the world. After a long and fiery debate, the CITES member countries adopted by consensus a strong decision to protect tigers from trade, calling on China to phase out tiger farms and uphold the domestic trade ban. Going forward, we are maintaining pressure on China to act, using every form of leverage open to us, from influencing diplomatic channels, to investigating illegal trade in tiger parts from the farms in China, to working with leaders in tradtional Chinese medicine to advocate alternatives to tiger medicinal products. The species that has most dominated CITES over the years has been the African elephant. This year was no different – but it did have a significant twist. Usually numerous competing proposals to allow trade in ivory are debated, sometimes ferociously, for hours before a decision is reached. The African elephant range states have rarely agreed on the best method to manage elephant populations because they face differing levels of poaching pressure and illegal trade. This year, for the first time in 18 years, the range states reached a compromise agreement that a limited amount of ivory could be sold in a one-time trade to a qualified nation in exchange for a nine-year ban on general ivory sales. You give a little, you get a lot; trade is controlled at sustainable levels and the species is conserved. This “trade off” is exactly what CITES is all about. It is unrealistic to expect that all member countries would ever agree to a total ban on trade for every species, nor is that what WWF seeks. Rather, through CITES we work to restrict trade in the most endangered species, but also to regulate trade in economically important species that are not as threatened so that both people and wildlife benefit. And that, after all is said and done, is what WWF’s species conservation work is all about. ■ Ginette Hemley is WWF’s chief conservation officer. Throughout her 25 years at WWF, she has been instrumental in building our international reputation in the policy arena. ■ The United States government and the entire WWF global network stood up for tigers at the CITES 2007 conference, calling for the decisions necessary to ensure a healthy future for tigers. worldwildlife.org 41 http://worldwildlife.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of World Wildlife Fund - Annual Report 2007

WWF - Annual Report 2007 Contents The Landscapes of People's Lives The President’s Report Africa, Land of the Soul Building Prosperity from Africa’s Natural Wealth A Namibian Odyssey Natural Capital: Putting a Price on Nature Investing in Fish and Fishermen Wildlife in the Balance Africans on the Move WWF Results Across the Globe A Different Kind of Fieldwork A River Dammed Pooling Efforts in the World’s Aquarium More Than Just the Daily Catch All Along the Equator A Partnership for Freshwater Funding and Financial Overview Statement of Activities Ways to Give Staff National Council Board of Directors

World Wildlife Fund - Annual Report 2007

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