From the late 1950s it became obvious that the "Convention on Nature and Natural Resources'' known as the London Convention needed to be revised to adapt it to the new situation in which Africa was moving towards its independence and was aspiring to improved welfare for its population and where there appeared to be an increasing conflict as regards the needs of human populations and that of preserving the natural flora and fauna. There was increased population growth, as well as increased pressure on natural resources. For the African leaders, the need for conservation has always existed, but the need for judicious exploitation of these resources in a manner that avoids killing the goose that lays the golden egg was equally on the mind of many.

The preamble of the Convention clarifies the intentions and objectives of the Heads of State and Government of Independent African States. It states among others:

• Fully aware that soils, water, flora and fauna constitute capital of vital importance for human beings;

• Reiterating, as we declared when we signed the Charter of the Organization of African Unity, that we know that our duty is to place the human and natural resources of our continent at the service of general progress of our peoples in all the areas of human activity;

• Fully aware of the ever- increasing importance of natural resources from the point of view of economics, nutrition, science, education, culture and esthetics,

• Recognizing that the utilization of these resources should aim at satisfying human needs according to the capacity of the environment;

• Desirous to undertake individual and collective action in order to preserve, utilize and develop this capital through the establishment and maintenance of its judicious use for the present wellbeing and the future of Humanity;.

• Convinced that the adoption of a convention is the most appropriate means to attain that goal.

This convention laid down the basis of the African coordinating system and solidarity in this continent 25 years before the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity, to preserve its natural resources not only for the African populations but also for Humanity as a whole.

This was a collaborative initiative between OAU/STRC and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to help OAU Member States parties to the Abidjan Convention to combat coastal erosion by using low cost technologies and local raw materials.