1. China is the single major destination for illegal ivory and has the world's largest black market.
2. Soaring Chinese demand for ivory is responsible for the death of a large number of elephants.
3. In Africa, Chinese citizens have been convicted of illegally trading ivory in 22 of the 37 elephant range states.
4. It is estimated that if China is approved as an ivory buyer it will open the floodgates to allow large quantities of illegal ivory to be traded.
5. Elephants are protected from trade by the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. This is an agreement signed by more than 170 countries, regulating trade in about 5,000 species of animals and 25,000 species of plants.
6. In June 2007, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe were permitted a one-off sale of ivory from their stockpiles. Japan has been approved as a buyer and now China also wants to benefit. China's request to be a trading partner will be considered in Geneva, July 2008.