Legal and Regulatory Framework for Combating Deforestation in Africa: Case Study of Kenya and Nigeria

Combating Deforestation in Kenya and Nigeria

Abstract

Deforestation is a matter of global concern. This is because deforestation has a negative effect on the global climate, ecosystem and water cycle. No other continent is more bedevilled with the problem of deforestation than Africa. Massive Population growth, widespread urbanization, increased utilization of forest land for agriculture and the reliance on wood as a source of fuel are some of the factors responsible for deforestation in Africa. In 2013, the African Union adopted the Agenda 2063 as a framework all round for socio-economic transformation of the African continent within 50 years.   Kenya and Nigeria represent examples of African countries that adopted Agenda 2063 and are combating the problem of deforestation in their territories. Using the Doctrinal Research Method, this paper analysed the legal and institutional frameworks for combatting deforestation in Kenya and Nigeria with the aim of discovering if they were capable of delivering on the Agenda 2063 Targets of the African Union. This paper also undertook a comparative analysis of the legal and regulatory framework for combatting deforestation in Kenya and Nigeria. This paper also undertook a comparative analysis of the implementation of the legal and regulatory framework for combatting deforestation in Kenya and Nigeria. The findings of this paper are that the Legal and Institutional Framework for combatting deforestation in Kenya is theoretically robust. However, the implementation of the legal and institutional framework is weak and ineffective. For the part of Nigeria, the legal and institutional framework is weak and inadequate. The implementation is equally weak and ineffective. The conclusion of this paper is that unless the implementation strategies are improved upon, the legal and regulatory framework for combatting deforestation in Kenya and Nigeria would not deliver on Agenda 2063.