Sustainable growth and development of Africa depend on the sustainable use of the continent's natural resources. The increasing degradation of the continent's environment and natural resources made it imperative for African Governments to put in place steps to safeguard these assets, including the adoption of the landmark Lagos Plan of Action in 1980, which proposed concrete measures to address the interface between environment and development of the region. The African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) was established in December 1985, following a conference of African ministers of environment held in Cairo, Egypt in order to promote regional cooperation in addressing environmental issues confronting the region. Being mindful of the link between poverty and the environment, the mandate AMCEN set for itself at its inception was to provide advocacy for environmental protection in Africaensure that basic human needs were met adequately and in a sustainable mannerensure that social and economic development was realized at all levelsand ensure that agricultural activities and practices met the food security needs of the region.