BEIJING — China on Thursday suspended the import of ivory carvings for one year, marking a small step toward limiting the ivory demand that drives the slaughter of tens of thousands of African elephants.
While the suspension signaled a symbolic victory for conservationists, many environmental groups noted that Africa’s elephant population remains in grave danger of extinction unless governments in China and Africa take stronger steps to protect the animals.
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But some environmental groups downplayed the significance of this week’s regulations, pointing out that they apply only to a small portion of total ivory trade and only last for one year. In an interview with The New York Times, representatives from the Environmental Investigation Agency described the new rules as “window dressing.”
