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This fact sheet by Natural Justice introduces Biocultural Community Protocols (BCPs) as tools for indigenous and local communities to document their values and rights to better engage with external actors and protect their territories. It details the endogenous process required to develop these protocols and provides case studies from Ghana, Malaysia, Kenya, India, and South Africa where BCPs have been used to combat illegal mining, secure land use zones, protect biodiversity, and manage traditional medicinal knowledge.

The Biocultural Protocol of the Kukula Traditional Health Practitioners Association outlines the roles, knowledge systems, and conservation practices of over 350 traditional healers in South Africa's Bushbuckridge area. It establishes guidelines for the sustainable harvest of medicinal plants and sets formal requirements for researchers and commercial bioprospectors seeking access to their traditional knowledge.

The 'Protocolos Comunitarios Bioculturales: Kit de Herramientas para Facilitadores Comunitarios' is a comprehensive guide published by Natural Justice. It provides a framework and practical tools for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to document their customary laws, values, and decision-making processes into 'biocultural community protocols'. These protocols are designed to help communities manage their territories, protect their rights, and engage constructively with external actors such as governments, researchers, and corporations, thereby reducing power asymmetries and preventing conflicts over natural resources.

This guide, published by Natural Justice, provides a framework for communities to document and develop Biocultural Community Protocols (BCPs). It outlines a process for evaluating the appropriateness of a protocol, mapping community foundations across identity, natural resources, sociocultural practices, economics, politics, and law, and consolidating this information into a strategic tool for engaging external actors and asserting community rights.

This guide provides a framework for communities to implement a Biocultural Community Protocol (BCP) to engage with external actors, raise awareness, participate in decision-making, and resolve conflicts regarding their territories and resources.

The "Biocultural Community Protocols: A Toolkit for Community Facilitators" is a guide published by Natural Justice to help Indigenous peoples and local communities document their customary laws, values, and decision-making processes. These protocols serve as instruments to manage interactions with external actors—such as governments, researchers, and companies—ensuring that community rights and stewardship of their territories are respected. The toolkit provides a comprehensive framework for facilitators to lead communities through the process of endogenous development, legal empowerment, and strategic advocacy.

This guide provides a practical framework for communities to develop biocultural community protocols to secure their rights, territories, and resources. It outlines a process for assessing the appropriateness of a protocol, mapping a community's identity and foundations (natural, social-cultural, economic, political, and legal), and consolidating this information into a strategic tool for engaging external actors.

This guide provides a framework for Indigenous peoples and local communities to use biocultural community protocols as tools for engaging with external actors, participating in decision-making, and resolving conflicts. It details strategies for proactive communication, raising awareness through participatory media, and navigating national and international legal processes to protect customary rights and territories.

This briefing by Natural Justice introduces Biocultural Community Protocols (BCPs), which are community-determined frameworks used by Indigenous peoples and local communities to articulate their values and rights when engaging with external actors such as governments and companies.

A statement submitted on 13 December 2024 by a coalition of civil society organizations, including Natural Justice and SAFCEI, providing critical comments on South Africa's Draft Article 6 Framework. The coalition argues that carbon markets are fundamentally flawed and risk enabling human rights abuses, land grabs, and the evasion of actual emission reductions.

Natural Justice submitted a commentary to the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment opposing the proposed exclusion of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations from the requirement to obtain environmental authorizations. The organization argues that replacing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process with a web-based Screening Tool undermines constitutional rights to public participation, administrative justice, and environmental protection, potentially increasing litigation and investment risk.

Natural Justice submitted comments to the South African Department of Transport regarding the Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment Bill (B5-2022). The organization argues that the Bill should implement stronger penalties, increase local government and police involvement in enforcement, and remove broad exemptions for ship trials and offshore mineral processing to align with South Africa's Paris Agreement commitments.

This joint NGO briefing urges UNFCCC COP27 to integrate the protection of land and environmental defenders into climate justice efforts. It highlights the prevalence of violence and legal harassment (SLAPPs) against defenders and recommends that the ACE Action Plan and the Global Stocktake explicitly address human rights obligations. Additionally, it proposes a protocol to ensure host countries of COP meetings guarantee freedom of assembly and association for participants.

This research paper describes the 'Heroes Project,' an interdisciplinary collaboration between Natural Justice, the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, and the Law+Environment+Design Laboratory. The project uses design, storytelling, and graphic narratives to address the collective historical trauma of the Khoi-San people in South Africa, aiming to reconnect youth with their cultural identity and provide alternatives to dysfunctional coping mechanisms.

This guide, produced by Natural Justice, provides information to the public regarding a proposed oil and gas exploration project in Block 3B/4B off the west coast of South Africa. It outlines the project's scope, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, potential ecological and social risks, and instructions for public participation.

A fact sheet by Natural Justice detailing a legal challenge brought by the Aukotowa Primary Fishing Cooperative, The Green Connection, and Natural Justice against the South African government's decision to grant TotalEnergies EP South Africa S.A.S environmental authorisation for ultra-deep water exploration in the Deep Water Orange Basin (DWOB).

This fact sheet outlines a legal challenge brought by Aukotowa Fisheries Primary Co-operative, The Green Connection, and Natural Justice against the South African state and TGS Geophysical Company. The applicants are seeking to set aside the environmental authorisation for a three-dimensional (3D) seismic survey off the West Coast of South Africa, arguing that the decision was unlawful, ignored climate commitments, and threatened the livelihoods of small-scale fishers.

This guide by Natural Justice provides information on the Environmental Authorisation (EA) granted to Shell Offshore Upstream South Africa B.V. and its partners for the Northern Cape Ultra Deep (NCUD) oil and gas exploration project off the South African West Coast. It outlines the project's scope, the legal process for appealing the decision, and potential environmental and socio-cultural impacts identified in the draft Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).

This factsheet details legal challenges brought against Shell Exploration and Production SA and the South African government to stop seismic surveys off the Wild Coast. It outlines two primary court cases: one unsuccessful urgent interdict by environmental and angling groups, and a successful interdict by local communities. The document summarizes the applicants' arguments regarding the lack of environmental authorization, inadequate consultation, and the failure to consider climate change and cultural rights, while explaining the potential legal precedents a victory would establish for future seismic testing in South Africa.

This fact sheet, produced by Natural Justice in September 2025, provides information regarding Total Energies' (TEEPSA) proposed oil and gas exploration drilling in the southern part of the Deepwater Orange Basin (DWOB) block off the coast of South Africa. It outlines the planned technical activities, potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, and the legal process for public participation and comment.