NGOs sent a letter to the governor of Tokyo,TMG to follow through on its commitment and take action to address concerns about Tokyo’s ivory trade by implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Council to guide Tokyo’s path forward. Re: Advisory Council’s Recommendations on Tokyo’s Ivory Trade Refarence: YouTube Why Closure of Japanese Ivory Market is Require?
The final meeting of the ‘The Advisory Council on Regulation of Ivory Trade’ was held on 29 March by Tokyo Metropolitan Government. At the meeting, recommendations were compiled, which were a significant step forward from the draft report discussed at the previous meeting. The report said that efforts should be made to promote appropriate ivory trade, and that (1) the government should be encouraged to tighten management, (2) efforts should be made to prevent ivory being taken out of the country, and (3) ordinances and other effective methods should be considered. The report records that “Voices from Abroad to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government” includes letters sent to the Governor of […]
NGOs sent a letter to the governor of Tokyo after it became possible that the governor’s report from the advisory committee would not include he consideration of ivory trade regulations based on an Ordinance and other measures. Re: Specific Recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Regulation of Ivory Trade Needed
The Tokyo Olympic Games are over, but that hasn’t eliminated concerns about tourists coming to Japan to buy ivory. Thirty-one NGOs from around the world, including the JWCS, have sent a letter to the governor of Tokyo asking her to close a ivory market.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been having expert committee meetings on ivory trade regulation. It conducted a questionnaire to ivory dealers in Tokyo and submitted a report to the committee. JWCS has translated it into English. Report of the ivory market survey December 2020 Policy Coordination Section Policy Coordination Department Office of Governor for Policy Planning Tokyo Metropolitan Government The original Japanese version is available on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government official website. 『象牙実態調査報告書』 The official site for this committee is here.
JWCS has submitted a public comment on a draft report, titled “Inspection results on the implementation status of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan” called for by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE) The 516th measure regard to controlling the trade of rare wild species was assessed as “a+ already achieved”. We pointed out that its implementation is inadequate and demanded more efforts are still needed in terms. Full version PDF
As a collaborative study between volunteer students from Hong Kong University and Japan Wildlife Conservation Society, we conducted an awareness survey of university students in Hong Kong, Macau and Japan. The results of the survey show that both region’s students oppose the use of endangered species and need alternatives. In other words, it may indicates that consumers will accept the change of raw materials from endangered species, which are difficult to purchase for pharmaceutical companies, to alternatives. Evaluating the Public Knowledge on the Use of Endangered Species in Producing Traditional Medicines The Endangered Species Traditional Medicines project team from the University of Hong Kong Japan Wildlife Conservation Society A questionnaire […]
Japanese government called for public comment on the proposal that seven endemic species would be listed in CITES Appendices III. Those species, genus Goniurosaurus and Anderson’s crocodile, whose exports are regulated by Laws. But there are bought and sold in overseas pet markets. JWCS agreed the inclusion of those species in Appendices III and requested further list up. And we requested consideration of addition of CITES regulations other species of similar concern from IUCN Red list . “Results of soliciting opinions on publication in Appendices III of CITES” (Japanese) There were only 6 opinions. 4 opinions agreed with listing in Appendices III. There was no opinion against the listing. The […]
The joint open letter to WHO from the NGOs（COVID-19: Health risks and wildlife markets – the need for a permanent global ban on wildlife markets and a highly precautionary approach to wildlife trade） April 7 is World Health Day. 241 organizations worldwide, including JWCS, have called on WHO. ・Recognize the global health risks of demand for wildlife and its products, ・Closure of live wildlife markets, ・Amendments to WHO’s 2014-2023 Traditional Medicine Strategy, ・Securing protein sources to replace wild animals etc. Demand for wildlife and its products is a major cause of the outbreak and spread of zoonotic diseases. #banwildlifemarket ＃COVID19
World NGOs and individuals, including JWCS, have urged WHO, OIE and UNEP to encourage governments across the world to introduce and enforce legislation to close wildlife markets. The current corona virus epidemic sweeping across parts of China is believed to have originated in wildlife. Previous global epidemics have also been associated with wildlife markets. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is reported to have spread to humans via wild mammals commonly traded live in Chinese markets. The Ebola virus epidemics in West and Central Africa are thought to have originated from bats. many such animals are also traded live in wildlife markets in the countries in which the outbreaks first occurred. […]