Africa

This page identifies ecological jurisprudence initiatives that exist on the African continent.

African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN): declaring ecocide as a continental priority

Location:Nairobi, Kenya

Status:Approved in 2025

Legal Provision:Declaration

Nature Type:All Nature

In July 2025, African Environment Ministers agreed at the AMCEN 20 to include ecocide in the continent’s environmental priorities for the 2025-2027 biennium.Read More →

Ghana Parliamentary Recommendation: ecocide law

Location:Ghana

Status:Submitted in 2025

Legal Provision:Position Statement

Nature Type:All Nature

In December 2025, Ghana’s Constitutional Review Committee proposed establishing a national crime of ecocide as part of broader constitutional reform.Read More →

Kenya Environmental Management and Coordination Bill 2022: rights of nature & environmental defenders

Location:Kenya

Status:Failed in 2022

Legal Provision:Legislation

Nature Type:All Nature

On February 25, 2022, a bill was introduced in the National Assembly of Kenya to amend the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA) of 1999 to incoRead More →

Nigeria River Ethiope Rights Act

Location:Nigeria

Status:Submitted in 2024

Legal Provision:Legislation

Nature Type:Freshwater Ecosystem

In 2019, the Earth Law Center and River Ethiope Trust created the River Ethiope Rights Act – a draft law to grant legal rights for the River Ethiope in Nigeria.Read More →

Africa Protected Areas Congress: Kigali Declaration “We are Nature”

Location:International

Status:Approved in 2022

Legal Provision:Indigenous Declaration

Nature Type:All Nature

In 2022, representatives of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities from more than 40 African nations made the Kigali Declaration "We Are Nature."Read More →

Buliisa (Uganda) District Ordinance 2020: Bagungu customary law and sacred sites

Location:Buliisa District, Western Uganda

Status:Approved in 2020

Legal Provision:Legislation

Nature Type:All Nature

In December 2020 the Buliisa District Council of Uganda passed a law recognizing the customary laws of the Bagungu People and sacred natural sites (Mpuluma)Read More →

Benin National Sacred Forest Law of 2012

Location:Republic of Benin

Status:Approved in 2012

Legal Provision:Legislation

Nature Type:Forest Ecosystem

The Benin Sacred Forest Law passed in 2012 recognizing sacred forests where gods, spirits and ancestors reside, and communities that protect and govern them.Read More →

African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights: Resolution on the Protection of Sacred Natural Sites and Territories

Location:International

Status:Approved in 2017

Legal Provision:Declaration

Nature Type:All Nature

In 2017, the African Commission issued a resolution calling for the recognition of sacred sites, territories and their customary governance systems.Read More →