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The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mrs. Edna Molewa, has confirmed
that no decision has yet been taken over the legal trade in rhino horn
by South Africa.

“If we come up with measures that completely eradicate poaching we
may not need to look at (trade).  We are not looking for money.  We are
looking at war.  This is a war we must win.  If there is a solution we
may not have to look at possible trade,” Minister Molewa told
delegates on the sidelines of the 6th World Parks Congress in Sydney,
Australia, on 13 November 2014.

Minister Molewa, supported by Deputy Minister Barbara Thomson and
senior Department of Environmental Affairs, SANParks and KZN Ezemvelo
Wildlife officials, hosted a successful Rhino Conservation Side Event on
the sidelines of the 2014 Congress.

The IUCN World Parks Congress 2014 is regarded as a landmark global
forum on protected areas, where the agenda for protected areas
conservation will be set for the next decade.

Outlining the interventions by the South African government, and
conservation bodies, to combat rhino poaching, the Minister said actions
at international level will further strengthen efforts to not only
address rhino poaching, but the illegal wildlife trade in general.

South Africa recognised that the work being done required continued
adaptability to meet changing dynamics.

“Unfortunately the threat of poaching has continued to escalate while
various multi-faceted interventions are being implemented by South
Africa.  We are concerned that poaching is part of a multi-billion
dollar worldwide illicit wildlife trade. Addressing the scourge is not
simple,” she said.

The multi-disciplinary responses included the creation of intensive
protection zones, translocation of rhino to safe havens within rhino
range states, the introduction of new technology, and investigating the
possibility of a feasible rhino trade, or not.

The Minister emphasised that no final proposal has been compiled, or
decision made, regarding the future legal trade in rhino horn as an
additional intervention to reduce the levels of poaching. This means no
final proposal has been compiled regarding the future legal trade in
rhino horn as an additional intervention to reduce the levels of
poaching.

Issued by Departmet f Environmental Affairs