with due regard to the best interests of the people of Africa.
38 The Algiers Convention failed to provide the institutional structures that would have facilitated its
effective implementation. It also did not establish mechanisms to encourage compliance and enforcement.
39
In 2003, African nations signed a Revised African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource (Revised African Convention).
40 The objectives
of the Revised Convention are (i) to enhance environmental protection; (ii) foster the
conservation and sustainable use of natural resources; and (iii) to harmonize and
coordinate policies in these fields.
41 The third objective is important, especially
because soil governance in Africa requires effective harmonization of sectoral
policies across countries, and within countries, to minimize and eliminate the
deleterious effects of sectoral actions. The Revised Convention defines natural
resources to include soils.
42
Specifically, the Convention provides for measures to protect land and soil,
requiring Parties to take effective measures to prevent land degradation, and adopt
measures for the conservation and improvement of the soil in order to combat
erosion, soil misuse and the deterioration of the soils physical, chemical and
biological or economic properties.
43 The Convention further requires African
nations, when implementing agricultural practices and agrarian reform, to take the
following measures
44 :
(i) improve soil conservation and introduce sustainable farming and forestry
practices, which ensure long-term productivity of the land,
(ii) control erosion caused by land misuse and mismanagement which may lead to
long-term loss of surface soils and vegetation cover,
(iii) control pollution caused by agricultural activities, including aquaculture and
animal husbandry.
Further, Parties are required to prevent soil erosion, pollution or any other form
degradation, when implementing non-agricultural public works including mining
and waste disposal. Where land degradation has occurred, the Convention requires
African nations to plan and implement mitigation and rehabilitation measures.
45
Although the Revised African Convention does not make provision for climate
change actions, it requires implementation of measures that would lessen the vulnerability of African soils, and sustain the soils ability to provide ecosystem services.
In Sects. 1 and 2 above, the chapter highlighted the challenges facing soil health in
38 1968 African Convention, Article 2.
39 IUCN (2004).
40 African Union (2017) Revised African Convention.
41 Revised African Convention, Article 2.
42 Revised African Convention, Article 5.
43 Revised African Convention, Article 6.
44 Revised African Convention, Article 6.
45 Revised African Convention, Article 6.
In Salvation of African Soils: Exploring the Window of Opportunity. . .
21
38 The Algiers Convention failed to provide the institutional structures that would have facilitated its
effective implementation. It also did not establish mechanisms to encourage compliance and enforcement.
39
In 2003, African nations signed a Revised African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource (Revised African Convention).
40 The objectives
of the Revised Convention are (i) to enhance environmental protection; (ii) foster the
conservation and sustainable use of natural resources; and (iii) to harmonize and
coordinate policies in these fields.
41 The third objective is important, especially
because soil governance in Africa requires effective harmonization of sectoral
policies across countries, and within countries, to minimize and eliminate the
deleterious effects of sectoral actions. The Revised Convention defines natural
resources to include soils.
42
Specifically, the Convention provides for measures to protect land and soil,
requiring Parties to take effective measures to prevent land degradation, and adopt
measures for the conservation and improvement of the soil in order to combat
erosion, soil misuse and the deterioration of the soils physical, chemical and
biological or economic properties.
43 The Convention further requires African
nations, when implementing agricultural practices and agrarian reform, to take the
following measures
44 :
(i) improve soil conservation and introduce sustainable farming and forestry
practices, which ensure long-term productivity of the land,
(ii) control erosion caused by land misuse and mismanagement which may lead to
long-term loss of surface soils and vegetation cover,
(iii) control pollution caused by agricultural activities, including aquaculture and
animal husbandry.
Further, Parties are required to prevent soil erosion, pollution or any other form
degradation, when implementing non-agricultural public works including mining
and waste disposal. Where land degradation has occurred, the Convention requires
African nations to plan and implement mitigation and rehabilitation measures.
45
Although the Revised African Convention does not make provision for climate
change actions, it requires implementation of measures that would lessen the vulnerability of African soils, and sustain the soils ability to provide ecosystem services.
In Sects. 1 and 2 above, the chapter highlighted the challenges facing soil health in
38 1968 African Convention, Article 2.
39 IUCN (2004).
40 African Union (2017) Revised African Convention.
41 Revised African Convention, Article 2.
42 Revised African Convention, Article 5.
43 Revised African Convention, Article 6.
44 Revised African Convention, Article 6.
45 Revised African Convention, Article 6.
In Salvation of African Soils: Exploring the Window of Opportunity. . .
21