Legal Protection of Natural Resources Against Desertification and Depletion in Libya: A Study in Light of National Legislation and International Conventions

Abstract

Desertification and drought are among the most prominent environmental challenges facing many countries, because of their effects on the environment, human health and life directly or indirectly. Libya is one of the countries that is greatly affected by this phenomenon, as a result of the nature of its dry and semi-arid climate, and the associated limited natural resources and exposure to land degradation. The Libyan legislator sought to meet these challenges by developing a set of legislations and policies aimed at protecting the environment and regulating the exploitation of natural resources in accordance with the principles of sustainability. Despite this, the effectiveness of this protection still faces a number of challenges, most notably the weak implementation of legislation, the indiscriminate and unregulated urban expansion and the consequent assault on agricultural land, as well as the limited environmental awareness of some groups of society, which may contribute to the continuation of irrational practises and the depletion of natural resources.