Legal Hub
Wildlife. Communities. Agrifood systems.
Welcome to the Legal Hub
The Legal Hub is a user‑friendly and innovative platform developed by the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme to facilitate access to, and understanding of, national legal frameworks on wildlife management and related agrifood systems. It provides government‑validated legal analyses developed using a diagnostic methodology grounded in long‑standing, multisectoral experience in legal development, thereby supporting informed, coherent and evidence‑based law reforms.
The Legal Hub also supports FAO's efforts in achieving Agenda 2030 and relevant Sustainable Development Goal’s, contributing to the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 for sustainable agri-food systems, and aiding in the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements and regional policies.
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The challenge
Strong legal frameworks are essential for wildlife conservation, poverty reduction, and food security. However, many laws and policies struggle to keep up with critical and evolving environmental and social norms and needs. For reform processes to be effective, they should be transparent, inclusive, and participatory. However, clear, accessible legal information, yet it remains out of reach for many, highlighting the urgent need to bridge this gap.
Our response
The SWM Programme Legal Hub provides access to country legal profiles prepared by National Legal Experts using thematic Legal Diagnostic Tools (LDTs). Reviewed by governments, these profiles identify strengths and weaknesses in laws and policies across sectors related to land, ecosystems and wildlife management, animal production, health and food safety.
For selected countries, they also include information on customary norms and practices as well as ratified multilateral environmental agreements. The profiles are regularly updated and serve as a tool to guide or initiate legal reforms.
The Legal Diagnostic Tools (LDTs)
LDTs consist of a series of guiding questions developed by the FAO Legal Office to review national legal frameworks and identify key issues, gaps and priorities:
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Our impact
The Legal Hub is advancing legal reforms for sustainable wildlife management and related agri-food systems by enhancing stakeholders' understanding of existing statutory and customary laws, alongside science-based knowledge from the SWM Programme and other initiatives. To date, it has facilitated or triggered participatory legal reform processes in most partner countries.
Additionally, the Legal Hub encourages an informed cross-sectoral dialogue among stakeholders and ministries that historically had limited interaction, breaking down traditional silos. Factsheets, educational materials, and training modules are also being developed to inform stakeholders at different levels. These are available on the SWM Programme web site.
Testimonials
An Interview with Dr Robert Nasi, Director General of CIFOR - ICRAF
An Interview with Ms. Astrid Schomaker, CBD Executive Secretary
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An Interview with Dr Musonda Mumba, Convention on Wetlands, Secretary General
An Interview with Ms. Amy Fraenkel, CMS Executive Secretary
An Interview with Ms. Ivonne Higuero, CITES Secretary General
An Interview with Mr. Wynter Boipuso Mmolotsi, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Republic of Botswana
An Interview with Mr. Evans Muhanga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Zambia
An Interview with Dr Nyambe, Executive Director of the KAZA Secretariat
An Interview with MS. Rosalie Matondo, Minister of Forest Economy, Republic of the Congo
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An Interview with MS. Eve Bazaiba Masudi, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
An Interview with Mr. Lucien Massoukou, Director general of wildlife and protected areas, Gabonese Republic
An Interview with Mr. Rinah Razafindrabe, DG environmental governance, Madagascar
An Interview with M. Chouaïbou Nchoutpouen, Deputy Executive Secretary and Coordinator, COMIFAC
Where we work
Click on the map to visit any country's legal profile.
Progress and next steps
In 2024, the Legal Diagnostic Tools (LDTs) were updated and expanded through a participatory process involving the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management, as well as experts from the World Health Organization and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The country specific legal analysis are currently being revised using the new LDTs.
Supported by
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Consortium partners
