Modern Legal Approaches to Natural Resource Management: A Comparative Analysis

The deteriorating global ecological situation necessitates the search for ways to enhance legal approaches to natural resource management. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic analysis of the legal regulation of this institution in Kyrgyzstan and several other countries to establish their similarities and differences. During the study, the theoretical understanding of the term ‘natural resource management’ was examined, which helped formulate an authorial concept and identify the societal relations affected by this legal institution. Moreover, the study highlighted and analysed its main components and classification. Furthermore, three main scientific approaches to regulating this phenomenon were evaluated, upon which the contemporary legislative trends in different countries were subsequently examined. The subsequent exploration of the subject matter involved a systematic analysis of various regulations in Kyrgyzstan that regulate issues related to the use of natural resources, providing an opportunity to conclude on the prioritisation of sustainable development principles within the country. A detailed examination of the components of natural resource management demonstrated a multitude of mechanisms, procedures, and restrictions, including legal accountability, levies, environmental assessments, and others, which shape these legal relationships. Moreover, the study assessed data provided by international organisations, which revealed a general trend towards worsening environmental conditions. The legal regulation of countries such as Denmark, the United States, Kazakhstan, and India was also considered, enabling a comparative analysis of Kyrgyzstan’s practice with that of foreign countries, based on which differences in legislative approaches were formulated. The value of this study lies in delineating the main features of legal approaches in countries from different regions of the world in the field of natural resource utilisation, serving as an auxiliary tool for policymakers when making decisions in this area.