CITES vote signals shift toward Namibia’s conservation model
Ellanie Smit
A landmark shift in the global conservation conversation emerged at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to CITES, where Namibia’s proposals on sustainable rhino horn trade—though ultimately rejected—received significantly increased international support. Help Our Rhinos Now, Namibia (HORN.nam), chairman Jaco Muller, represented the country’s private rhino custodians at CoP20 and said that this marks a turning point in how the world views Namibia’s conservation successes and its sustainable-use approach.
Namibia submitted three proposals: the downlisting of white rhinos (Proposal 9), the downlisting of black rhinos (Proposal 10), and approval to sell the country’s long-held ivory stockpile (Proposal 13).
All three were voted down. But critically, Proposals 9 and 10 received around 30% support—double the backing seen for a similar pro-trade proposal at CoP19.
For conservation advocates and custodians, this momentum is more significant than the final vote.
“The level of support is a clear sign that more countries are starting to acknowledge the science behind Namibia’s position,” Muller said.
Namibia’s black and white rhino populations have shown decades of continuous growth on state and private land—outcomes that directly contradict the need for Appendix I protection under CITES’ own biological criteria.
Despite this evidence, Namibia’s proposals failed largely due to political alignment rather than scientific merit.
Delegations from outside southern Africa, including many from regions with no rhinos and no conservation burden, sided with international NGOs campaigning against any form of legal trade. This diluted the unified stance of SADC countries, which collectively protect 92% of the world’s rhinos and possess the most credible experience in managing them.
Still, the increased support for Namibia’s proposals indicates a growing global recognition that southern Africa’s conservation model—rooted in sustainable use, regulated trade, and community benefit—is grounded in both science and success.
Muller said that Namibia’s traceability systems further strengthen this case.
The country already utilises DNA verification, microchipping, and full chain-of-custody documentation. It is developing a QR-code identification system integrated with RhODIS to ensure secure, real-time tracking of rhino horn.
These systems demonstrate that regulated horn trade can be tightly controlled—countering claims that such trade is inevitably linked to criminal activity.
Advocates argue that without legal avenues for horn sales, criminal syndicates remain the sole suppliers to a thriving black market. Sustainable trade, they say, is the only approach that can simultaneously reduce illegal demand, fund long-term protection efforts, provide meaningful benefits for rural communities, and ensure that rhinos become self-sustaining for future generations.
While Namibia did not secure the policy changes it sought at CoP20, the increasing support signals growing international openness to its conservation philosophy—a shift driven by evidence, results, and the undeniable success story of Namibia’s rhinos.
A landmark shift in the global conservation conversation emerged at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to CITES, where Namibia’s proposals on sustainable rhino horn trade—though ultimately rejected—received significantly increased international support. Help Our Rhinos Now, Namibia (HORN.nam), chairman Jaco Muller, represented the country’s private rhino custodians at CoP20 and said that this marks a turning point in how the world views Namibia’s conservation successes and its sustainable-use approach.
Namibia submitted three proposals: the downlisting of white rhinos (Proposal 9), the downlisting of black rhinos (Proposal 10), and approval to sell the country’s long-held ivory stockpile (Proposal 13).
All three were voted down. But critically, Proposals 9 and 10 received around 30% support—double the backing seen for a similar pro-trade proposal at CoP19.
For conservation advocates and custodians, this momentum is more significant than the final vote.
“The level of support is a clear sign that more countries are starting to acknowledge the science behind Namibia’s position,” Muller said.
Namibia’s black and white rhino populations have shown decades of continuous growth on state and private land—outcomes that directly contradict the need for Appendix I protection under CITES’ own biological criteria.
Despite this evidence, Namibia’s proposals failed largely due to political alignment rather than scientific merit.
Delegations from outside southern Africa, including many from regions with no rhinos and no conservation burden, sided with international NGOs campaigning against any form of legal trade. This diluted the unified stance of SADC countries, which collectively protect 92% of the world’s rhinos and possess the most credible experience in managing them.
Still, the increased support for Namibia’s proposals indicates a growing global recognition that southern Africa’s conservation model—rooted in sustainable use, regulated trade, and community benefit—is grounded in both science and success.
Muller said that Namibia’s traceability systems further strengthen this case.
The country already utilises DNA verification, microchipping, and full chain-of-custody documentation. It is developing a QR-code identification system integrated with RhODIS to ensure secure, real-time tracking of rhino horn.
These systems demonstrate that regulated horn trade can be tightly controlled—countering claims that such trade is inevitably linked to criminal activity.
Advocates argue that without legal avenues for horn sales, criminal syndicates remain the sole suppliers to a thriving black market. Sustainable trade, they say, is the only approach that can simultaneously reduce illegal demand, fund long-term protection efforts, provide meaningful benefits for rural communities, and ensure that rhinos become self-sustaining for future generations.
While Namibia did not secure the policy changes it sought at CoP20, the increasing support signals growing international openness to its conservation philosophy—a shift driven by evidence, results, and the undeniable success story of Namibia’s rhinos.
