Conserving Musk Deer the Uses of Musk and Europe's Role in its Trade (pdf, 360 kb)

48

¥

In addition to the creation of protected areas, the banning of hunting in certain areas, and the

listing of musk deer taxa in the Russian Red List, it will be necessary to protect the wild

musk deer populations in Russia from over-hunting by revising the regulatory system for the

exploitation of musk deer in the country.  The present scheme dates from the Soviet times

when strong centralised controls were in force, but now needs urgently to be updated and

improved, in terms of its scientific basis; in terms of monitoring by independent government

bodies and non-governmental organisations (as, for instance, with the counting of Tigers in

the Russian Far East by WWF); in terms of involvement of local people and stakeholders;

and in terms of decentralisation of its administration.  Linked to any improvement in the

system for regulating hunting must be a strengthening of measures to combat poaching and

illegal trade in Russia 

¥

Russian export quotas for musk need to be based on solid scientific data and kept at the

lowest possible levels for at least a few years until wild populations have had a chance to

recover and reliable field assessments have resumed.  Close on-the-ground monitoring,

possibly by independent governmental or non-governmental organisations, is needed so that

quota levels may be adapted to reflect the status of targeted populations. 

¥

The accession to CITES of Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea should be

encouraged, to further improve the protection of musk deer in situ by attempting to improve

the controls over international trade in musk.

¥

In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan (if it is a range country for musk deer), licensed hunting

should be introduced.  Scientifically-based population censuses of musk deer should form

the foundation for plans for the adequate protection of musk deer species in Kazakhstan and

Kyrgyzstan.  If population counts of musk deer indicate that some exploitation is possible,

annual export quotas should be set on the basis of scientific evidence.  Without scientific

evidence from the field, zero quotas for musk export are recommended.

Sustainable use initiatives and farmed deer

Û

Projects that can demonstrate sustainable harvests of musk from farmed and/or wild animals

should be promoted as models to emulate.  Such projects should involve local people.  Farm

operators should be encouraged to share information with interested parties and a portion of the

profits from such schemes should be used to foster wild musk deer conservation.  Through such

schemes, musk deer, as well as their sensitive habitats, could be protected in a sustainable way, as

proposed by Green (1989 and 1998) . 

Û

The Chinese policy on musk deer farming needs to be reviewed and, where applicable, developed

into an economic and species-appropriate management concept. 

Û

The existing plans for the extraction of musk from captive musk deer in Russia should be

supported and, if economically feasible, transformed into a private business with management

plans and initiatives.

Û

An exchange of scientific and practical information relating to the management and breeding of

musk deer on farms should be set up between China and Russia.  Such knowledge should be made

available to other relevant countries, for example, North and South Korea, too.  Commercial or

other forms of compensation for such transfers of knowledge could be negotiated. 

---

49

Regulation of trade in musk in non-range countries

Û

Importing countries such as Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, USA, Australia, France,

Germany, Switzerland and others should be required to assist the countries of origin by means of

financial or technical assistance to safeguard and monitor wild musk deer populations. 

Û

The main destination countries for raw musk in international trade (South Korea, Japan and

France) and re-exporting countries (Hong Kong, Singapore and recently also Germany,

Switzerland and Cambodia) should enforce all CITES provisions pertaining to musk. 

Û

In order to assist the country’s recent accession to CITES, the role of Cambodia in the international

trade should further be monitored since Cambodia seemed to export significant volumes of musk

in 1994 and 1995.

Û

The significance of Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and Cambodia in the international trade

in, and use of, medicines containing musk should be examined in greater detail, and enforcement

loopholes in these locations should be identified and closed.

Û

Enforcement loopholes in Europe relevant to the international trade in musk derivatives should be

detected and eliminated by the competent authorities and organisations in Europe.  For example,

proposals for labelling of products containing musk should be developed jointly with the traders

and authorities in the countries of origin and forensic techniques should be developed to determine

the presence or absence of musk in derivatives.

Use of musk and musk products in Asian medicinals, perfumes and homeopathic products

Û

Most musk derivatives are traded for Asian medicinal purposes, but the level of Asian medicinal

consumption of musk needs to be clarified to better understand the existing and expected market

needs.  Surveys to ascertain these are particularly recommended for South, East and Southeast

Asian countries and should also include New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the USA.

Û

The domestic demand for TEAM should especially be investigated in China, South Korea and

Japan, which are probably the main consumers. 

Û

Until the presence or absence of genuine musk in Asian medicines is clarified, all items that claim

to contain musk should be traded with CITES permits.  Clear product labelling would be useful

for enforcement purposes.

Û

The research on musk substitutes for use in TEAM needs to be encouraged, intensified, and, as far

as possible, lead to practical and acceptable solutions that could be supported by user groups of all

kinds of Oriental medicine.

Û

Although it seems likely that the demand for musk in the perfume industry in Europe is decreasing,

this requires monitoring. 

Û

Perfumes that contain natural musk should be required to be accompanied by appropriate CITES

permits when in international trade.  Clear product labelling would facilitate enforcement efforts

in this context.

---