Please download Position Paper on CITES CoP19 here: Position paper for CITES final
This article was published in Africa Geographic on October 27, 2022 and authored by Gail Thomson. We publish the article in full here:
In less than a week from today, at CITES (COP 19), hosted by Panama City, Panama from 14 to 25 November, the Conference is expected to order a blanket ban on elephant hunting and ivory imports.
Open letter: Stop the hypocrisy – a call for the genuine inclusion of African communities in decisions about our wildlife
As representatives of millions of rural Africans who live alongside dangerous and charismatic wild
animals, we urgently call on international decision-makers to reject hypocritical laws and policies that
ignore African perspectives and trample our rights as custodians of our wildlife. It is time to stop talking
about African wildlife without Africans at the discussion table.
Its official, CLN is ONE Year Old. After operating loosely since 2019 when it was convened, CLN was officially formalised on the 22nd of October 2021. With its Chairmanship based in Zambia and its Secretariat in Namibia, and representation in 7 other Southern African Countries, CLN has grown significantly to be the lead CBNRM coordinating body in Southern Africa, ensuring that the voices of the often-marginalised communities are heard. Please see official statement here: CLN@1 Statement
Please click here to access the CLN Constitution: CLN Constitution
With a delegation of 7 participants from 6 Southern African Countries (Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Malawi) CLN participated at the annual gathering that brings government officials and other appropriate wildlife management authorities together with the private hunting industry and community stakeholders. The forum aimed at collaboratively discussing sustainable use wildlife conservation across Africa. Read full report here: CLN@AWCF Report