As more democracies emerge and advance in Africa, they are forced to confront the environmental impacts caused by economic and social forces. The first step in this process is designing and establishing carefully constructed laws and administrative agencies to handle the mounting pressures on natural resources. These authorities can extend from the country’s constitution to the smallest enforcement agency. But, for these efforts to have a real effect, the public must become familiar with the rules and structure and have a legitimate means of enforcing them through the courts.