ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA
Africans have always been dependent on natural resources for the their livelihood. About 70% of people in Africa rely on forests for their food, shelter, energy and even medicine. Biodiversity is Africa’s greatest asset for economic development. However, the concept of environment is somewhat novel and foreign to Africans. This is mostly because the environment is considered from a very individualistic perspective.
Economic and social issues in Africa have rarely been related to environmental concerns despite the obvious importance of natural resources to the economy and clear ties between environmental degradation and poor health and productivity. Environment and Natural Resources Ministries were created only recently in most African countries. Their role and status within cabinets is still unclear and contested. As a result of their quest for greater power, the name, status and positioning of these ministries within political hierarchies have changed frequently. For example in Tanzania, the Tanzania Environment Council and the Division of Environment were moved to the Office of the Vice President so as to endow them with greater authority. In Uganda, the Ministry of Environmental Protection changed its name and position for the same reasons. In Kenya, the situation is similar and many departments with environmental responsibilities are scattered across other ministries. The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) was created in 1999 to undertake and coordinate efforts in:

Protection and Conservation of the Environment;
• Environmental Impact Assessment;
• Environmental Audit and Monitoring;
• Environmental Quality Standards;
• Environmental Restoration Orders, Environmental Conservation Orders and Environmental Easements;
• Inspection and Analysis of Records;
• International Treaties, Conventions