Birdlife | The miracle of the Iraqi marshlands
Meet Azzam Alwash, the man who left a life of luxuries behind in the US to return to his native Iraq and restore the country’s historically significant wetlands to their former glory.
Why our human rights depend on turning conflict into conservation
Biodiversity hotspots cover just 1.4% of the planet’s surface, yet 80% of major armed conflicts between 1950 and 2000 occurred in these areas. With the recent release of a UN report stressing the direct relationship between biodiversity and human rights, Alex Reid asks whether it’s time for us to reassess our understanding of the links between armed conflict, human rights and conservation.
Washington Post | Shelling around Ukrainian industrial facilities may trigger serious environmental consequences, report says
A steady uptick in shelling along front lines in eastern Ukraine is threatening numerous industrial facilities that, if damaged, could trigger severe environmental and humanitarian consequences, according to a new report by an environmental nonprofit organization.
New data on Ukraine conflict’s environmental risks supports calls for comprehensive assessment
With the Ukraine conflict’s environment risks again in the news, Zoï Environment Network has released new maps on the environmental consequences of the conflict. Both sides are increasingly conscious of the humanitarian and ecological impact of the war and plans to minimise risks and encourage sustainable reconstruction are being promoted. But without a comprehensive assessment of the damage, such proposals are of limited value.
Bellingcat/PAX | Water Filtration Plants and Risks of a Chlorine Mass-Casualty Event in Donetsk
Water filtration plants in Ukraine have been repeatedly damaged by shelling. How big a risk does the chlorine gas stored at these sites present?
Mainstreaming the environment in peace and security
Everyone recognises the importance of environmental mainstreaming. It’s a problem that is particularly acute for conflict and the environment, where the environment is rarely prioritised before, during or after conflicts. In turn this influences how we frame the issues we work on, and it also influences how we work, often content with modest progress from one project to the next. The barriers we face are shared, and systemic, which begs the question – do we need to change the system, together?
Saferworld | Informal armies: community defence groups in South Sudan’s civil war
An examination of the mobilisation and transformation of South Sudan’s many informal armies, with a focus on three case studies. The utility of this paper is its provision of essential context relevant for community-based solutions to environmental peacebuilding and natural resource management.
USAID | Climate change risk profile Libya
This profile provides an overview of climate risk issues in Libya, including how climate change will potentially impact agriculture, water resources, human health and coastal zones.