Research and Other Publications
Building African Capacity to Develop and Implement Environmental Law
Strengthening the Capacity of Institutions in the Albertine Rift to
Protect Biological Diversity
Straddling the five nations of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Tanzania, the Albertine Rift is world-renowned for its biodiversity. However, deforestation, armed conflict, and an array of other threats jeopardize this rich legacy. Through a new, three-year program, ELI and its in-country partners will work closely with the Makerere University Faculty of Law in Uganda to build local institutional capacity and strengthen legal frameworks for regional conservation.
By virtue of its expertise, reputation, and location in the heart of the Albertine Rift, the Makerere University Faculty of Law can play an essential role in current and future efforts to conserve species in the Rift region. ELI will assist the Law Faculty to build institutional capacity in two ways. First, ELI will participate in the review and further development of the University’s environmental law curriculum. Second, ELI will collaborate with law professors in the launch of a new research and training institute for environmental law within the Makerere Law Faculty.
The Makerere Faculty of Law already plays a central role in other core activities under the Albertine Rift project. In partnership with the Makerere Faculty of Law, Greenwatch, and others, ELI designed and implemented an advanced judicial training symposium for approximately one-third of the judges in the Ugandan judiciary in 2003. This event focused on the role of Ugandan judges in enforcing laws that protect, or may otherwise significantly impact, biological diversity in the Albertine Rift. Additionally, ELI and its partners will undertake a broad research and capacity-building program to strengthen laws and the capacity of institutions in Albertine Rift countries to protect biological resources through effective systems governing access to genetic resources and benefit sharing. This work will apply the results of ELI’s ongoing access and benefit sharing research in the unique context of the Albertine Rift.
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