The American Spectator

The Public Policy

Money and Ivory

By Erin Wildermuth on 11.7.08 @ 6:06AM

(Page 2 of 2)

SANPark has recognized these issues and is currently embracing a Transformation Mission that would "transfer power and control of resources from the minority that has been appointed and privileged by an undemocratic system to the majority that participates in the new democratic process."

While South Africa does show an example of how a state that is able to subsidize conservation can protect elephant populations, they have come to recognize the relative benefits of community ownership and are working to turn a subsidized government project into community projects that can benefit local development.

The countries with thriving elephant populations do not follow one formula for success. Two of the four even have national parks. They do, however, all recognize the need for transference of both the responsibility and the benefits of conservation to local people, which is accomplished through some form of property rights.

If the aim is really to save elephants and empower communities, ideology should take a back seat to methodologies that have been proven successful. There is no need to take to the streets, demanding a system based solely upon the free market. Likewise, it is impractical to rely on government conservation efforts that do not allow local people to benefit from elephant populations. The ivory ban is an outdated, ideologically based institution that has done just that.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Africa