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7327086 
Book/Book Chapter 
Traditional norms and environmental law: The sub-saharan african case study 
Chinweze, C; Jideani, C; Abiola-Oloke, GZ 
2011 
Cambridge University Press 
Rule of Law for Nature: New Dimensions and Ideas in Environmental Law 
191-206 
English 
Introduction Nature has immense spiritual and traditional values for the indigenous people of the sub-Saharan African region. More than anywhere else in the world, the people of the sub-Saharan African region rely on environmental resources for their sustenance. The ecosystem serves as a safety net for these people. This dependence and relationship with nature has helped the people acquire skills over the years to manage profitable natural resources. Therefore, through their cultural norms and traditional knowledge, which is a law at the local setting, they protect their environment and natural resources along the generational linage. These laws, though not acknowledged by national or international regimes, are what protect the environment and sustain development. It is worthy to note that international environmental agreements are implemented at the domestic level by the rural people. Therefore, for effective global environmental governance, an adequate legal framework, well understood by the people, must exist. This chapter therefore endorses the bottom-up approach in environmental governance, which makes for a successful implementation of international treaties. This chapter seeks to highlight the link between traditional norms and environmental governance and suggest ways to strengthen such environmental laws at sub-national, national and international levels. © Cambridge University Press 2013.