Assessing Biodiversity Loss and the Challenge of Implementing Nature Conservation Laws in Africa

Abstract

Despite multilateral global efforts to improve biodiversity conservation, the African biodiversity range is increasingly facing existential threats. The Red List of Threatened Species (RLTS) adopted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to protect relevant species is not effectively implemented in many African countries. In this study, we identify the legal mechanisms to protect biodiversity at regional and national levels, focusing specifically on Liberia and Nigeria. We also identify the specific drivers of biodiversity loss in sub-Saharan Africa as a framework for formulating context-specific laws. The study highlights the importance of prioritising legislative action reflecting the IUCN’s red list of threatened species and the need to develop local solutions to more contextual challenges. The added relevance of creating specialised agencies to address the crisis of biodiversity loss is also discussed.