Namibia is pinning its hopes on the upcoming COP20 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) for approval to legally sell a portion of its ivory stockpile. The summit will take place in Uzbekistan from 24 November to 5 December. According to the proposal, Namibia currently has just over 92 386 kg of ivory, valued at about N$166 million. The ivory was stockpiled via population management and seizures, in roughly equal parts. Namibia does not destroy its ivory. "With this proposal, Namibia seeks to trade in an existing stock of 46 268 kg of registered raw ivory (whole tusks and pieces) of Namibian origin, owned by the government, for commercial purposes," the document states. This portion of ivory has accumulated from elephants that died of natural causes and through management interventions, it adds. The proposal states that trade will be conducted with partners verified by the CITES Secretariat as having adequate national legislation and domestic trade controls. This is to ensure that ivory imported from Namibia is not re-exported and is managed in line with all requirements governing domestic manufacturing and trade.