An Assessment of Tanzania’s Legal Framework on Military Field Training and Environmental Protection in Comparison with China
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2522-3062/17043Keywords:
military environmental law, environmental legal framework, military environmental impacts of military training, comparative environmental law, environmental protectionAbstract
This paper assesses Tanzania’s environmental legislation on military field training in comparison with China. Both countries have ratified environmental treaties and conduct regular land, air and water training that impacts ecosystems, yet Tanzania’s military role in environmental decline has received little scrutiny. Using doctrinal and qualitative research, the study compares relevant regulations in both jurisdictions, drawing lessons from China’s more developed framework. China integrates environmental norms into both military and environmental law ensuring coordination and specificity, while Tanzania’s framework is less comprehensive. The paper recommends strengthening Tanzania’s National Defence Act with environmental provisions, advancing policy and scholarship on sustainable military training and raising awareness of its ecological impacts. The findings are relevant to the military, defence institutions, policymakers, scholars and students of environmental studies.
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Legislation
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Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (adopted 10 December 1976, entered into force 5 October 1978) 1108 UNTS 151.
Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (adopted 8 June 1977, entered into force 7 December 1978) 1125 UNTS 3.
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (adopted 22 March 1985, entered into force 22 September 1988) 1513 UNTS 3.
Convention on Biological Diversity (adopted 5 June 1992, entered into force 29 December 1993) 1760 UNTS 79.
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China
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The People’s Liberation Army Environmental Protection Regulations (2004).
Civil Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China (revised 2017).
Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China (adopted 24 April 2014).
Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (adopted 4 December 1982, as amended 11 March 2018).
Tanzania
Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania (adopted 25 April 1977, as amended by the 14th Amendment).
National Defence Act No 24 of 1966.
National Defence Act No 192 of 2002.
Environmental Management Act No 20 of 2004.
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