In Wednesday's environmental law news, the Kenya Wildlife Service has announced a proposal to increase the protection for lions under the UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) treaty. Kenya seeks to move the lion to the treaty's Appendix 1 level, a move that would effectively ban trade of the animal. The proposal faces opposition from trophy-hunters and livestock farmers. The proposal will be considered at the Convention's meeting which starts on October 2nd in Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters has the full story.

In other environmental law news...

• Thailand Prime Minister Shinawatra has announced a campaign to eliminate the H5N1 avian flu virus by the end of October. The plan includes taking a census of chickens in the country and culling "ruthlessly" wherever the virus is found. The virus has been responsible for 20 deaths in Vietnam and 10 deaths in Thailand this year. CDC has background on the disease. Reuters has the full story.
  
  
• The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced a new research strategy for waste management in the country. The far-reaching plan [PDF] emphasizes better sustainable waste management policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, on both national and local levels. The press release is here. 4NI, a Northern Ireland news-site, has more.