Would it prevent illegal poaching if we flooded the market with fake Ivory?

Question

When people are given convincing substitutes for a sought after material, it reduces demand for the real thing. For example, demand for rubber (tapping) and wild pearl (fishing) has been reduced when convincing substitutes become available. The lower prices of the substitutes also attracts buyers.

If we flooded the market with a convincing ivory substitute, do you think this would help prevent illegal poaching?

Why?

Answer 1

it is a step which can help a lot

Answer 2

There have been ivory substitutes since the invention of plastic, but that has not prevented poaching.

Flooding the market with low cost ivory, would eliminate poaching.  Just like providing heroin addicts in NYC free heroin and clean needles would immediately reduce crime and spread of HIV.

I don't know if there is any suplus of ivory to flood the market with, but there is no shortage of narcotics and needles to keep the addicts in NYC happy (even if no one wants to solve the problem this way.)

Answer 3

Not all  poaching is  for ivory (this must be a small part of it by now.

Its for body parts to sell as aphrodisiacs ,and exotic pets ,skins

As well as meat.

Answer 4

I'm not sure. It might make it worse in causing it to become harder to regulate ivory like products.

Answer 5

Well, it'd be hard to make it convincing.  Ivory has a structure not unlike wood.  Under modest magnification it is unmistakable as its cell structure is apparent--and beautiful.  Your plan could back-fire.  It could make the 'real thing' a status symbol if attention is brought to it.  

Cubic zirconia hasn't made diamonds any less in demand even though experts can't tell them from real diamonds without testing.