IELP lays foundation for Malawi’s new National Parks & Wildlife Act (NPWA)

Malawi was recently named a country of primary concern according to a wildlife trade monitoring report (ETIS/Traffic) and is located on a major route in the illegal ivory trade. Malawi has addressed these concerns by spearheading numerous initiatives that include the first Wildlife Crime Investigations Unit and new legislation that gives courts the power to sentence traders of illegal wildlife to up to 30 years of imprisonment. The new National Parks & Wildlife Act (NPWA) has already curbed wildlife criminal operations and put offenders behind bars (see related news story). 

The International Environmental Law Project (IELP) at Lewis & Clark Law School facilitated the drafting of the proposed amendments and was one of the lead authors of the Illegal Wildlife Trade Review (May 2015) that precipitated these efforts. “Malawi is making great strides in the global fight against wildlife crime. Working with the team in Malawi was a great honor, and we’re happy that IELP’s support helped realize these necessary legislative changes,” says Professor of Clinical Law and IELP Staff Attorney, Erica Lyman.

The International Environmental Law Project (IELP) works with governments, non-governmental organizations, and international institutions to develop, implement, and enforce international environmental law to tackle some of today’s most challenging global issues, including climate change, biodiversity conservation, oceans and fisheries and trade and the environment. IELP also trains and educates the next generation of international environmental advocates by providing students at Lewis & Clark Law School with opportunities to participate in international environmental law and policy.