ABSTRACT
Environmental sustainability is an integral part of the Sustainable Development Goals which were established by the United Nations in 2015. The central focus of Sustainable Development Goal 15 is life on land. It aims to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.” Africa, a continent rich in biodiversity, has been plagued by environmental issues and despite international treaties and the convening of world leaders, threats to biodiversity in Africa remain particularly troublesome.
This chapter critically analyses the root causes of biodiversity loss, which include armed conflict, crime against wildlife, and deforestation. The chapter further argues that international law, for the most part, has been ineffective in addressing biodiversity loss in Africa and adopting an ecocentric approach, instead of an anthropocentric approach is vital to combat the causes of biodiversity loss in Africa. Ecocentrism finds intrinsic value in all of nature, which differs from anthropocentrism, which places value on human life above all else. Through critical analysis, this chapter argues that ecocentrism will naturally benefit the conservation of Africa’s ecology, including its people. It is recommended that international law must reflect an ecocentric approach as opposed to placing value on the environment only insofar as it benefits human beings. The author does not underestimate the importance the environment plays in the sustainable development of people and their right to a healthy environment but argues that to achieve environmental sustainability, the environment should be looked at from a perspective that places equal importance on all living organisms and non-living organisms.
