African Convention for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

 

Article XIV. Development Plans

1. The Contracting States shall ensure that conservation and management
of natural resources are treated as an integral part of national and/or
regional development plans.

2. In the formulation of all development plans, full consideration shall
be given to ecological, as well as to economic and social factors.

3. Where any development plan is likely to affect the natural resources
of another State, the latter shall be consulted.

Article XV. Organization of National Conservation Services

Each Contracting State shall establish, if it has not already done so, a
single agency empowered to deal with all matters covered by the
Convention, but, where this is not possible a co-ordinating machinery
shall be established for this purpose.

Article XVI. Iinterstate Co-Operation

1. The Contracting States shall co-operate:

a) whenever such co-operation is necessary to give effect to the
provisions of this Convention and

b) whenever any national measure is likely to affect the natural
resources of any other State.

2. The Contracting States shall supply the Organization of African Unity
with:

a) the text of laws, decrees, regulations and instructions in force
in their territories, which are intended to ensure the
implementation of this Convention,

b) reports on the results achieved in applying the provisions of
this Convention, and

c) all the information necessary for the complete documentation of
matters dealt with by this Convention if requested.

3. If so requested by Contracting States, the organization of African
Unity shall organize any meeting which may be necessary to dispose of any
matters covered by this Convention. Requests for such meetings must be
made by at least three of the Contracting States and be approved by
two-thirds of the States which it is proposed should participate in such
meetings.

4. Any expenditure arising from this Convention, which devolves upon the
Organization of African Unity shall be included in its regular budget,
unless shared by the Contracting States or otherwise defrayed.

Article XVII. Provision for Exceptions

1. The provisions of this Convention shall not affect the
responsibilities of Contracting States concerning:

1) the paramount interest of the State,

2) “force majeure”,

3) defence of human life.

2. The provisions of this Convention shall not prevent Contracting
States:

1) in time of famine.

2) for the protection of public health,

3) in defence of property,

to enact measures contrary to the provisions of the Convention, provided
their application is precisely defined in respect of aim, time and place.

Article XVIII. Settlement of Disputes

Any dispute between the Contracting States relating to the interpretation
or application of this Convention which cannot be settled by negotiation,
shall at the request of any party be submitted to the Commission of
Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration of the Organization of African
Unity.

Article XIX. Signatures and Ratification

1. This Convention shall be open for signature immediately after being
approved by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the
Organization of African Unity.

2. The Convention shall be ratified by each of the Contracting States.
The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the
Administrative Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity.

Article XX. Reservations

1. At the time of signature, ratification or accession, any State may
declare its acceptance of this Convention in part only, provided that
such reservation may not apply to the provisions of Articles II-XI.

2. Reservations made in conformity with the preceding paragraph shall be
deposited together with the instruments of ratification or accession.

3. Any Contracting State which has formulated a reservation in conformity
with the preceding paragraph may at any time withdraw it by notifying the
Administrative Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity.

Article XXI. Entry into Force

1. This Convention shall come into force on the thirtieth day following
the date of deposit of the fourth instrument of ratification or accession
with the Administrative Secretary General of the Organization of African
Unity, who shall inform participating States accordingly.

2. In the case of a State ratifying or acceding to the Convention after
the depositing of the fourth instrument of ratification or accession, the
Convention shall come into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit
by such State of its instrument of ratification or accession.

3. The London Convention of 1933 or any other Convention on the
conservation of flora and fauna in their natural state shall cease to
have effect in States in which this Convention has come into force.

Article XXII. Accession

1. After the date of approval specified in Article XIX paragraph (1),
this Convention shall be open to accession by any independent and
sovereign African State.

2. The instruments of accession shall be deposited with the
Administrative Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity.

Article XXIII. Denunciation

1. Any Contracting State may denounce this Convention by notification in
writing addressed to the Administrative Secretary General of the
Organization of African Unity.

2. Such denunciation shall take effect, for such a State, one year after
the date of receipt of its notification by the Administrative Secretary
General of the Organization of African Unity.

3. No denunciation shall, however, be made before the expiry of a period
of five years from the date at which for the State concerned this
Convention comes into force.

Article XXIV. Revision

1. After the expiry of a period of five years from the date of entry into
force of this Convention, any Contracting State may at any time make a
request for the revision of part or the whole of this Convention by
notification in writing addressed to the Administrative Secretary General
of the Organization of African Unity.

2. In the event of such a request the appropriate organ of the
Organization of African Unity shall deal with the matter in accordance
with the provisions of section 3 of Article XVI of this Convention.

3. (i) At the request of one or more Contracting States and
notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) and (2) of this Article,
the annex to this Convention may be revised or added to by the
appropriate organ of the Organization of African Unity.

(ii) Such revision or addition shall come into force three months
after the approval by the appropriate organ of the Organization of
African Unity.

Article XXV. Final Provisions

The original of this Convention of which both the English and the French
texts are authentic, shall be deposited with the Administrative Secretary
General of the Organization of African Unity.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF we the Heads of State and Government of Independent
African States, assembled at Algiers, Algeria, on 15 September 1968, have
signed this Convention.

Author: international

Mentioned in these Entries

African Convention for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Settlement of Disputes.