Many (most) young chameleons die in the mouth of another animal in the wild. Few wild animals live to "old" age. One of the most beautiful things about nature is that it is self-renewing. Predator/prey relationships benefit both species involved. Genetically speaking, we are mostly consumers of chameleons in the same way that the mamba and the shrike are. In the modern world, species and habitats that have value in their "natural" state will be preserved. Controls need to be "enculturated" to avoid the "tragedy of the commons." The modern story of alligators in Florida is an example of win-win in my opinion.
For Chameleons: Adult female chameleons should never be taken from the wild - this makes no sense biologically or economically - they generally perish. Left in the wild, these savvy survivor females will renew stocks of young. Young adult chameleons could be harvested according to a slot limit, and probably seasonally depending on the species - no small juveniles, and no trophy adults can be harvested, only young adults. Our local river systems in Idaho have been heavily fished year round for the past 100 years and yet are teaming with beautiful, wild fish because of slot-limits. Slot limits respect nature's law's of renewal.
Eco/collecting-tourism: African countries that have controlled big game hunting and reasonable permitting systems have the healthiest populations of game animals. Their animals are the most valuable when there are always more of them available to hunt.
Had I known they weren't going to be available I would have stocked up while I had the chance! I seriously wanted a huge tank (like 100 gallon or something) with like 30+ pygs just roaming around it in one day. I really hope they start coming back in eventually. 
I was just on there about 45 minutes ago lol
