Make ban on Chinese wildlife markets permanent, says environment expert

Temporary ban to curb coronavirus is not enough, says environmental leader Jinfeng Zhou

A temporary ban on wildlife markets in China to curb the spread of coronavirus is "not enough" and should be made permanent, a prominent Chinese environmental leader has told the Guardian.

Echoing calls from experts worldwide who have denounced the trade for its damaging impact on biodiversity as well as the spread of disease, Jinfeng Zhou, secretary general of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), said the ban failed to address the root cause of the outbreak, which was poor regulation and high levels of illegal trade.