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.

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 domestic ivory market ban was decided at CITES in 2016. But ivory products are still sold in Japan. JWCS has created a short video calling on Japanese consumers to close the ivory market.