Africa

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

Kenya Environmental Management and Coordination Bill 2022: rights of nature and 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 →

Democratic Republic of Congo Declaration: international crime of ecocide

Location:Democratic Republic of Congo

Status:Approved in 2024

Legal Provision:Declaration

Nature Type:All Nature

October 31, 2024, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) publicly declared its support for establishing ecocide as an international crime.Read 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 (2022) 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: Bagungu customary law and sacred sites (2020)

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

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: sacred natural sites and territories

Location:International

Status:Approved in 2017

Legal Provision:Declaration

Nature Type:All Nature

The Gaia Foundation and the African Biodiversity Network made a resolution recognizing sacred sites, territories and their customary governance systems in 2017.Read More →

Buliisa (Uganda) District Resolution: Bagungu customary law and sacred sites (2019)

Location:Buliisa District, Western Uganda

Status:Approved in 2019

Legal Provision:Declaration

Nature Type:All Nature

In 2019, the Buliisa District Council in Uganda recognized customary laws of Bagungu indigenous communities through a resolution.Read More →