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This briefing provides notes from a three-part webinar series organized by Natural Justice in October 2020. The sessions focused on the development, application, and legal recognition of community protocols within the framework of Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS), emphasizing community-led processes to protect traditional knowledge and biological resources.

The African Environmental Defenders Fund, launched in December 2019 by Natural Justice and the International Land Coalition (ILC), provides emergency financial support to land and environmental defenders in Africa facing imminent threats. Between March and August 2020, the Fund processed 15 applications, approving 10 and distributing over USD 30,000 to assist with legal fees, bail, relocation, and safe houses.

This case study describes a legal challenge brought by Friends of the Irish Environment against the Irish government's 2017 National Mitigation Plan, which the court ultimately found to be lawful.

This document consists of formal submissions by Natural Justice to the Kenyan Ministry of Environment and Forestry regarding the Draft Forest Policy 2020. The submissions argue for a shift away from 'fortress conservation' and the current Community Forest Association (CFA) model toward a human-rights-based approach that recognizes the ancestral rights and conservation roles of indigenous and local communities.

Natural Justice submitted comments on the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2020, opposing the removal of Council of Governors nominees from the boards of the Energy Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation.

A tribute from Natural Justice honoring Mzee Abubakar Al-Amudy, the Chair and co-founder of Save Lamu, following his death on June 21, 2020.

A statement by Natural Justice on Youth Day 2020, acknowledging the legacy of the 16 June 1976 Uprising in South Africa and expressing support for youth-led struggles against inequality, planetary crisis, and big polluters.

A statement by Natural Justice expressing solidarity with activists and communities facing racial, police, and state oppression, linking these struggles to the broader pursuit of environmental justice.

A statement by a community member from D’kar village detailing the vulnerabilities of the San people in Botswana during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the inadequacy of government responses and the risk to indigenous culture.

This case study by Natural Justice describes the illegal expansion of salt pans by Kurawa Industries Limited in Magarini Sub County, Kilifi County, Kenya. The expansion has caused water salinity that destroyed the coconut crops of a local family, while government agencies and the company have failed to provide licenses, permits, or compensation reports, a situation exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

This guide by Natural Justice examines how COVID-19 lockdowns have been leveraged by governments and private entities to suppress environmental and land defenders, particularly in Africa, and provides strategic advice for maintaining activism and safety during the pandemic.

This submission by Natural Justice to the UN Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights details the impacts of climate change on indigenous peoples and local communities in Africa. It highlights how environmental shifts and land-use changes threaten bio-cultural resources and traditional knowledge, while presenting 'Community Protocols' as a tool for adaptation and the protection of cultural rights. The document also outlines the severe risks faced by cultural and environmental rights defenders in Africa, including violence, criminalization, and land grabbing.

A statement by Natural Justice reflecting on the relationship between humanity and nature during the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that the environmental recovery observed during lockdowns demonstrates the failure of formal climate policies and the need for a shift away from anthropocentric economic priorities.

A statement by Natural Justice arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic and the locust invasion in Kenya demonstrate the interconnectedness of environmental health, socio-economic well-being, and security, calling for a shift toward sustainable development models and participatory governance.

Natural Justice submitted a set of proposed amendments to the Kenya Forest Service regarding the Forests (Community Participation in Sustainable Forest Management) Rules, 2009. The organization advocates for greater transparency, the inclusion of private sector actors in forest conservation, and the mandatory participation of forest associations to align with constitutional requirements.

A statement from Natural Justice outlining operational safety measures and organizational commitments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This document contains the minutes of two public meetings held on 11 March 2020 in Garissa County, Kenya. The meetings were convened as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) addendum for the proposed Lokichar to Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline (LLCOP) project, specifically addressing a route re-alignment in Modikare and onshore crude oil storage at Lamu Port.

This document contains the minutes of a public meeting held on 11 March 2020 in Garissa Town, Kenya, regarding an addendum to the Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the proposed Lokichar to Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline (LLCOP) project. The meeting focused on a route re-alignment in Garissa County necessitated by the original path crossing Kenya Defence Force (KDF) land.

This case study describes the first climate change court case in South Africa, concerning the environmental authorisation of the 1200MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station.

This case study by Natural Justice details the legal battle between the Urgenda Foundation and the State of the Netherlands, resulting in a Supreme Court ruling that the Dutch government is legally obligated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect human rights.