Six tonnes of ivory to be destroyed in Dubai, the move was part of the country?s obligations towards the international conventions and agreements especially CITES.  The ivory was taken from African elephants, which is listed in the first addendum pertaining to CITES, which the UAE had joined in 1990. The Environment Department of the Dubai Municipality has handed over six tonnes of ivory which its inspectors had confiscated to the Ministry of Environment and Water. The quantity seized contained raw ivory of different shapes and sizes. 

The Waste Management Department of the Dubai Municipality has suggested a new mechanism by which the municipality will grind the ivory pieces so as to make it easy to destroy it in line with the CITES international convention.

I would like to give some details on CITES for those who are reading this term first time.

CITES -the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals. CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. Each Party to the Convention must designate one or more management authorities competent to grant permits or certificates on behalf of that Party, and one or more Scientific Authorities to provide advice that international trade in any CITES-listed species will not be detrimental to the survival of that species. Roughly 5,000 species of animals and 29,000 species of plants are protected by CITES against over-exploitation through international trade.

The UAE?s commitment to green policies is praiseworthy. Many efforts and actions in the field of energy conservation, sustainability and environmental protection will surely assist the UAE in implementing its Vision 2021 and Green Growth Strategy.

 source-Khaleej Times