Introduction to Environmental Peacebuilding

Transcription

1 Introduction to Environmental Peacebuilding Components & Terminology Applications Conflict Cycle Conflict Curve From Conflict to Peacebuilding: The role of natural resources and the environment How You Can Help

2 Todd Walters CEP Peace Fellow Founder / Executive Director: International Peace Park Expeditions Fellow: Institute for Environmental Diplomacy & Security Author: Several Articles & Chapters on Environmental Peacebuilding Instructor: Courses on Environmental Peacebuilding at UVM, UMD, Ohio U and MIIS; numerous guest lectures and conference presentations nationally Member of the IUCN Transboundary Protected Area Professionals specialist group; and the Environmental Peacebuilding working group Former Research Specialist: Environmental Change and Security Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars

3 Peacebuilding Identifying the conditions that lead beyond a temporary cessation of violence to sustainable processes of conflict management and mutual cooperation between those who have previously been adversaries. Johan Galtung, Three Approaches to Peace: Peacekeeping, Peacemaking, Peacebuilding Building peace in today's conflicts calls for longterm commitment to establishing an infrastructure across the levels of a society, an infrastructure that empowers the resources for reconciliation from within that society and maximizes the contribution from outside. John Lederach, Building Peace

4 Environmental Peacebuilding WHY? Because between 1950 and 2000, 118 of 146 conflicts (81%) occurred in Biodiversity Hotspots (Hanson, et al, 2008) Because in % of violent interstate conflict was directly linked to natural resources (UNEP 2012) Because there is an emerging link between poaching, organized crime and terrorism Because the environmental impacts of war become collateral damage but also present an opportunity for collaborative cleanup, restoration and future management Because for conservation to be successful in the long run it must be sustainable, and to be sustainable it must not be thought of in a vacuum, but instead must be understood with all the complex linkages between natural resources and conflict

5 Natural Resource and Conflict Linkages Contribute to Conflict Resource scarcity Equity and benefits Environmental degradation Poor public participation Lack of dispute resolution Transboundary impacts Sustain and Finance Conflict Capture resources Capture territory Conflict financing Motivation for recruitment Spoil Peacebuilding Economic incentives (and vested interests in conflict economies) reinforce political divisions Challenge in peace negotiations Environmental damage caused by conflict

6 Environmental Peacebuilding Overview Environmental Security Competition over Natural Resources Scarcity, Depletion, Distribution, Lootability Environmental Impacts of War IntraState and InterState conflict Refugees and IDP s = RESOURCE WARS (environmental conflict) Environmental Peacebuilding Cooperation over Natural Resources Co-Management at the Eco-system level Resource Sustainability, Equitable Distribution, Community Participation, Sustainable Livelihoods Community, Regional, National, International = Sustainable Resource Management, Stability, Resiliency, Frameworks for Collaboration

7 Key Terminology in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Conflict Drivers Mitigating Factors (Peacebuilding Factors) Synergistic Effect Unintended Consequences Peacebuilding Dividend Conflict Avoidance Conflict Mitigation Conflict Sensitivity

8 Environmental Peacebuilding Components Ecosystem Perspective Positive Peace not just a Negative Peace Collaborative Framework Decision-making & Management Multi-Level, Multi-Discipline Community Participation / Benefits Economic tipping point Sustainable Livelihoods Address Root Causes Soft Issue for Negotiation in International Affairs Policy Crafting and Advising

9 Environmental Peacebuilding Applications Peacemaking: Treaty to end active conflict Condillera del Condor South Sudan? North and South Korea? Siachen Glacier? Sierra Leone and Liberia Conflict Prevention: Policy framework to collaboratively manage a resource or ecosystem Lake Titicaca and the ALT Central Albertine Rift Transfrontier Conservation Area Network Nile River Basin Initiative Indus Basin Initiative Peacebuilding: Collaborative networks at the local level, national and international levels Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro Costa Rica, Panama South Africa and Peace Parks Jordan River Valley European Green Belt

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11 Conflict Cycle Cyclical Nature in the History of Conflict to Relapse and Reignite (Fragile States) Phases of Conflict Formation and Escalation; Outbreak of Violence, Resolution and Recovery, Build more resilient and peaceful society. Types of Interventions Conflict Prevention, Conflict Management, Conflict Resolution (Peacemaking), Peacebuilding (Post-Conflict recovery) Linkages between Conflict and Conservation are intertwined with poverty, population growth, governance, and dependence on natural resources Resilience (both an Environmental term and a Peacebuilding term) is a critical mass of people opposed to a return to conflict

12 Lund, Michael S. USIP.. Source URL: global conflict/curve conflict

13 Conflict Curve Ripeness: Identify which action to take and when to take it (Context and Timing) Temperature Scale for Conflict and Peace Flow (Stages and Time) Conflict Transformation

14 UNEO, UNEP, From Conflict to Peacebuilding: The Role of Natural Resources and the Environment

15 Environmental Peacebuilding the Opportunity CI s existing conservation work already contributes to peacebuilding at the community, science and policy levels Let s consciously harness that potential CI is uniquely positioned to leverage assets across disciplines, throughout levels, and at all stages of the conflict cycle to maximize peacebuilding dividends of existing projects and develop new ones Conservation can contribute to conflict, can be negatively impacted by conflict and it can help to address conflict It s our choice

16 Purpose of CEP s Peace Strategy To promote peacebuilding policies and practices which conserve natural capital and improve human well-being through sciencebased policies, advocacy, and global policy dialogues while working in partnership with academic institutions, development NGOs and communities.

17 HOW YOU CAN HELP Think about how your programs, your projects, your work already has environmental peacebuilding components Think about how you can consciously build environmental peacebuilding components into your existing work. Think about how you can contribute to the development of new environmental peacebuilding projects in the future. Meet with Todd and PDP staff so we can learn more about your work Ask us questions anytime!

18 Todd s Role with CEP Advise Connect Develop Resources Stimulate Thought and Discussion Collaborate

19 Todd s Responsibilities Facilitate networking, expert relationships and organizational partnership opportunities Provide strategic guidance and technical input on the CEP strategy Increase internal awareness of environmental peacebuilding Brown bags, formal presentations, 1-on-1 discussions, guest presenters Collaborate with CEP and CI staff to develop concept notes, project proposals & program strategies

20 Conservation International Policy Center for Environment and Peace Peace Fellow 2014 Todd Walters Want More Details? Photo x Position x: 8.74, y:.18 todd@peaceparkexpeditions.org