Why has the ivory trade been regulated by international agreements?

The ivory trade is regulated by international agreements primarily to prevent the extinction of elephant species, whose populations have been decimated by poaching driven by commercial demand for their tusks.123

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) serves as the primary legal framework for this protection. By classifying species into specific appendices based on their risk of extinction, CITES enables international cooperation to restrict or prohibit the trade of animal parts, including ivory.41

Key milestones in this regulation include:
* 1990 Ban: CITES implemented an outright ban on the international ivory trade in response to the massive decline of African elephant populations during the 1980s.12
* Controlled Sales: In subsequent years, limited exceptions were made allowing specific nations to sell government-held ivory stocks under strict oversight, though the overarching goal remains the protection of the species.2

These regulations are essential because they address the ethical imperative to protect endangered species from being exploited to the point of collapse for the sake of luxury goods.43