Environment Minister Michael Meacher said £40,000 would go towards a new system monitoring the illegal trade in ivory.

And he said a further £60,000 would fund conservation work in return for disposal of part of the registered ivory stockpiles held by African governments.

Last year's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species conference voted to allow a limited trade in elephant products to resume.

In a Commons written reply, Mr Meacher wrote: "While African range states indicated their readiness to help finance the monitoring systems, there will be a need for external funding to get them up and running.

"Since effective monitoring systems will be vital to informing decision-makers on whether the decision to allow limited trade in elephant products has any adverse effect on levels of poaching and illegal trade, I am today pledging £40,000 of UK support for the new system to monitor illegal trade in ivory.