Luanda: The environmentalist Silvano Levi on Thursday said that the progress Angola has made in environmental legislation, with the adoption of stricter standards for the protection of biodiversity and the promotion of environmental impact assessments for development projects, are achievements worth noting in these 24 years of peace. Speaking to ANGOP, Silvano Levi stated that the country has been consolidating a legal framework aligned with international commitments, particularly within the framework of United Nations guidelines.
According to Angola Press News Agency, this alignment has enabled Angola to strengthen its responsibility in mitigating environmental impacts, whilst laying the foundations for more sustainable development. Among the key advances, he highlighted the requirement for environmental impact assessments prior to project implementation, a measure that has contributed to a more rigorous evaluation of the effects on ecosystems.
In addition, he noted that the revitalization and enhancement of national parks and reserves, as important tools for the preservation of fauna and flora in their natural habitats, represent another benefit of the period of peace. Despite this progress, the expert acknowledges that there are still shortcomings in compliance with regulations, as not all projects fully meet the established legal requirements.
Silvano Levi stated that this situation highlights the need to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, so as to ensure that legislation has a tangible impact on the ground. The environmentalist emphasized that the current pace of infrastructure growth and other human interventions demands greater rigor in environmental monitoring to prevent irreversible negative impacts.
Although Angola has a robust legal framework, the country's environmental future will depend on its ability to ensure effective enforcement of the laws and to protect biodiversity and ecosystems in an integrated manner.
