Conservation groups say this exposes elephants to the menace of poaching for illegal ivory trade.

CITES Parties have compromised the political will of countries from source, to end user to close domestic ivory markets and destroy ivory stockpiles.

Proposals were merged into a single resolution leaving each much weaker.

The proposal by 10 African elephant range states encouraging Parties to destroy ivory stockpiles thus was watered down to a decision to develop guidelines for the management of stockpiles rather than destroy them.

Another proposal also by 10 African elephant range States led by Angola, calling for Parties with legal domestic markets to close them; now only encourages countries to close those markets that contribute to poaching and illegal trade.

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