Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Central Asia
Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan - June - December 2016
Working on behalf of the Wildlife Conservation Society to draft the EU Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Central Asia as a part of the main Asia report “Larger then Tigers.”
The regional focus is a portion of the Central Asian that includes all or parts of the following eight countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This excludes a few countries (or parts of countries) that are also commonly associated with the region, including Mongolia, and parts of India, Russia and China that share similar ecosystems as they are discussed in other regional reports.
The regional focus is a portion of the Central Asian that includes all or parts of the following eight countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This excludes a few countries (or parts of countries) that are also commonly associated with the region, including Mongolia, and parts of India, Russia and China that share similar ecosystems as they are discussed in other regional reports.
Silent Steppe II - Field Survey and Report on Wildlife Trade
Mongolia 2016-2017
Working on behalf of the Zoological Society of London, members of the Legal Atlas team will be engaged from April 2016 until early 2017 conducting a comprehensive field survey of wildlife trade in Mongolia. The project is a sequel to the most comprehensive IWT study conducted in Mongolia to date, Silent Steppe.
The current project will use the survey methods and data collected during the first Silent Steppe study to further investigate the trends in IWT in Mongolia. An assessment will be conducted by ZSL training team focusing on the Border Agency and Mongolian State Policy. Appropriate training will then be provided, to include things such as IWT product recognition and the use of sniffer dogs. ZSL will develop a more user friendly customs database that will help provide a clear picture of international border trade and help identify key hotspots to improve law enforcement. ZSL and Legal Atlas will conduct a desk-based review of Mongolia’s existing wildlife-related laws and draft a list of needed amendments. ZSL will work with the relevant government agencies to discuss, revise and ultimately get accepted this list of amendments.
The current project will use the survey methods and data collected during the first Silent Steppe study to further investigate the trends in IWT in Mongolia. An assessment will be conducted by ZSL training team focusing on the Border Agency and Mongolian State Policy. Appropriate training will then be provided, to include things such as IWT product recognition and the use of sniffer dogs. ZSL will develop a more user friendly customs database that will help provide a clear picture of international border trade and help identify key hotspots to improve law enforcement. ZSL and Legal Atlas will conduct a desk-based review of Mongolia’s existing wildlife-related laws and draft a list of needed amendments. ZSL will work with the relevant government agencies to discuss, revise and ultimately get accepted this list of amendments.
UNEP WCMC - Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction
2016-2017
Working on behalf of the United Nations Environment Program World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) to help draft an analysis of institutional arrangements in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) (covering approx. 42% of the planet) as part of a Global Environment Fund (GEF) program.
The project included an analysis of the Southeast Pacific Ocean and the West Indian Ocean as well as the global instruments- treaties, conventions, committees etc.- at work. Legal atlas took part in both the global analysis and the visualization of the data lying at the basis of the regime in place. This was done as part of a re-evaluation and attempt to improve the governance of these areas both regionally and globally. This was done in a cross-sectoral manner, taking into account fisheries, mining, pollution and more and focusing on Area-Based planning tools.
The project included an analysis of the Southeast Pacific Ocean and the West Indian Ocean as well as the global instruments- treaties, conventions, committees etc.- at work. Legal atlas took part in both the global analysis and the visualization of the data lying at the basis of the regime in place. This was done as part of a re-evaluation and attempt to improve the governance of these areas both regionally and globally. This was done in a cross-sectoral manner, taking into account fisheries, mining, pollution and more and focusing on Area-Based planning tools.
Trans-Pacific Partnership - Legal and Enforcement Review
Australia, Chile, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia - 2015
On behalf of WWF, Legal Atlas conducted research into the import related laws and measures in eight countries that can be used to prevent or prosecute the ingress of illegally sourced wild flora and fauna, marine species, and timber products. Given the size and complexity of the review, it was broken into two phases.
Phase I included (1) establishing the baseline extent of the problem of trade in illegally taken wild flora and fauna (e.g., fish and other living marine resources, forest products and wildlife); and (2) identifying initial policy, enforcement, and implementation gaps to ensure coverage in the more focused research of later phases.
Phase II consisted of a policy review looking solely at those measures that could be used to prohibit or combat the import of goods harvested or traded in violation of applicable foreign or international law, regardless of the country of origin. Measures identified were then evaluated within a compliance assessment matrix that categorized them against specific criteria.
Phase I included (1) establishing the baseline extent of the problem of trade in illegally taken wild flora and fauna (e.g., fish and other living marine resources, forest products and wildlife); and (2) identifying initial policy, enforcement, and implementation gaps to ensure coverage in the more focused research of later phases.
Phase II consisted of a policy review looking solely at those measures that could be used to prohibit or combat the import of goods harvested or traded in violation of applicable foreign or international law, regardless of the country of origin. Measures identified were then evaluated within a compliance assessment matrix that categorized them against specific criteria.
Compilation of Wildlife Trade Laws in Africa
Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda - 2015
Working with the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) and the Conservation Council of Nations (CCN), Legal Atlas conducted research into wildlife trade related laws for four countries in Africa.
Tasks involved: (1) identifying and cataloguing laws relevant to prosecuting wildlife crimes; and (2) identifying relevant differences in prosecuting wildlife crimes or crimes
Tasks involved: (1) identifying and cataloguing laws relevant to prosecuting wildlife crimes; and (2) identifying relevant differences in prosecuting wildlife crimes or crimes
Natural Heritage Sites and Extractive Industry
Congo, Cameroon and Australia - 2014
Working with and reporting to Zoological Society of London's Conservation Programmes department, Legal Atlas conducted research into the legal and policy foundations concerning extractives and protected areas, with a particular focus on World Heritage Sites. The final report was in the form of a Policy Brief containing findings and recommendations for presentation at the World Parks Congress in Australia in November 2014. In addition, Legal Atlas provided a scoping document for a ‘toolkit’ to assist with improving legal frameworks.
Using the Legal Atlas research and legal data compilation methods, some of the tasks included: (1) a review of the legal basis of extractive industry-related policies (e.g. World Bank safeguards) and their treatment of protected areas and World Heritage Sites; (2) compilation and review of relevant international treaties and agreements; (3) compilation and analysis of national legal frameworks for three selected countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia, and Cameroon; (4) review of site-level legal transgressions and incompatibilities for sites within the three countries; (5) production of relevant maps and visual graphics to illustrate the legal research results in relation to World Heritage Sites and/or extractive company current or threatened activity on the ground.
Using the Legal Atlas research and legal data compilation methods, some of the tasks included: (1) a review of the legal basis of extractive industry-related policies (e.g. World Bank safeguards) and their treatment of protected areas and World Heritage Sites; (2) compilation and review of relevant international treaties and agreements; (3) compilation and analysis of national legal frameworks for three selected countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia, and Cameroon; (4) review of site-level legal transgressions and incompatibilities for sites within the three countries; (5) production of relevant maps and visual graphics to illustrate the legal research results in relation to World Heritage Sites and/or extractive company current or threatened activity on the ground.
Linear Infrastructure Guidelines
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China - 2014
Working under the direction of the Wildlife Conservation Society with funding from the Convention on Migratory Species, Legal Atlas acted as the principal author of a new set of policy guidelines for linear infrastructure development. The geographic focus was limited to 7 Central Asian countries and looked at opportunities to improve policies and practices to avoid and mitigate the impacts of linear infrastructure on migratory species.
Our consulting work included: (1) compilation and review of national level strategic and project-oriented environmental impact assessment laws; (2) a brief gap analysis of the extent to which national laws respond to the needs of migratory species; (3) a compilation and summary of related international treaties that govern linear infrastructure and/or migratory species; and (4) drafting a comprehensive set of guidelines for review by country experts and approval by the Convention's managing authority.
Project report is available through the CMS Secretariat's website.
Our consulting work included: (1) compilation and review of national level strategic and project-oriented environmental impact assessment laws; (2) a brief gap analysis of the extent to which national laws respond to the needs of migratory species; (3) a compilation and summary of related international treaties that govern linear infrastructure and/or migratory species; and (4) drafting a comprehensive set of guidelines for review by country experts and approval by the Convention's managing authority.
Project report is available through the CMS Secretariat's website.
Pro-Poor REDD+ Legal Frameworks
Cameroon, Ghana, Guatemala, Papua Province of Indonesia, Uganda - 2013
Legal Atlas supported the IUCN's Environmental Law Center to design and conduct a a comprehensive assessment of REDD+ legal frameworks including case studies in five countries. Countries included Cameroon, Ghana, Guatemala, Uganda, and Indonesia. The assessment resulted in set of guidelines to: (1) increase the scope and competency of institutional services related to REDD+, (2) outline principles for legal reform exercises, (3) provide a basis for appropriate inclusion and cooperation with communities in REDD+, (4) establish a tool for monitoring and evaluating related laws in other countries.
Areas of particular emphasis in the assessment included: land and resource tenure registration, related legal information services, dispute resolution and mediation, benefit sharing, institutional accountability.
Areas of particular emphasis in the assessment included: land and resource tenure registration, related legal information services, dispute resolution and mediation, benefit sharing, institutional accountability.
Wildlife Trade Legislation
Coverage: See Wildlife Trade in the Topics Menu
Initially sponsored by the Asian Development Bank to support the Asian Judges Network for the Environment, this project compiled and assessed frameworks for wildlife trade legislation for later publication in the Legal Atlas platform.
The research centered around: (1) compilation of related national and international legislation; (2) legal analyses including identification of relevant provisions and brief overviews for each law; (3) design of visual analytics to synthesize legal findings; (4) presentation of research results to international delegates at CITES conference in Bangkok (Thailand); (5) participation in focus groups with members of the Asian Judges Network for the Environment to understand wildlife trade challenges in each country.
The research centered around: (1) compilation of related national and international legislation; (2) legal analyses including identification of relevant provisions and brief overviews for each law; (3) design of visual analytics to synthesize legal findings; (4) presentation of research results to international delegates at CITES conference in Bangkok (Thailand); (5) participation in focus groups with members of the Asian Judges Network for the Environment to understand wildlife trade challenges in each country.
