News

We have all seen the horrific pictures of African elephants slaughtered or maimed for their ivory tusks. Several federal and state laws and international treaties are in place to address the crisis of elephant poaching.  Last year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a Proposed Rule, revising one of these laws, the Endangered Species Act, in respect to the African elephant. The Public Comments period ended on September 28, 2015, and comments are now being reviewed. This Proposed Rule -- and other laws -- directly affect the collecting, exhibiting, and selling of ivory objects, or objects containing even relatively small amounts of ivory, including objects produced many years ago.

In a lively and informative program, specialists from the worlds of art, law and government discussed the poaching crisis; how the existing laws and the Proposed Rule that are intended to address the crisis impact the art community; and how the various factions of the art community have responded to the proposed regulatory changes. To expand its reach, the program, including the extensive Q&A, was videotaped, and we have made it available to all on our Website: IFAR Evening on the Ivory Ban . Related educational materials (for Continuing Legal Education -- CLE -- credit) have also been posted. 

The 4 speakers (alpha order) were:

Marcus Asner
Partner, Arnold & Porter LLP
President's Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking

Craig Hoover
Chief, Division of Management Authority,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Michael McCullough
Partner, Pearlstein & McCullough LLP

Ian Wardropper
Director, The Frick Collection

Moderator:

Sharon Flescher
Executive Director, IFAR

This Program was organized together with the Fordham Art Law Society