Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region.

This agreement between the member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) provides with respect to the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife resources (excluding fisheries and forestry resources) in the SADC region. the primary objective of the Protocol is to establish a common approach to wildlife resources management. Each party to the Protocol shall ensure sustainable use of wildlife resources under its jurisdiction. In addition, each party shall ensure that activities carried out within its jurisdiction shall not cause damage to wildlife resources beyond its borders. As for the institutional mechanism for the implementation of the Protocol, there shall be a Committee of responsible Ministers, a Wildlife Sector Technical Coordinating Unit, a Committee of Senior Officials and a Technical Committee. The Committee of Ministers shall, among other things, adopt regional wildlife policies and strategies and supervise the implementation of the Protocol. The Wildlife Sector Technical Coordinating Unit shall act as secretariat for purposes of the implementation of the Protocol.
The Protocol imposes various obligations on the parties regarding the development of policies and a legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife resources. They shall endeavour to harmonise relevant national legislation. Such legislation concerns, among other things, protection of wildlife habitat and trade in wildlife products. Other obligations pf the parties concern the establishment of management programmes (also for cooperative management of cross-border resources), the taking of specific conservation measures, information sharing and the establishment of a regional database, introduction of mechanisms for community-based management, development of and cooperation in law enforcement mechanisms, and cooperation in capacity building.
The Protocol also provides for imposing of sanctions by the Council against a party that fails to meet obligations agreed to under this Protocol and a dispute settlement mechanism.