Warfare ecology: Lessons from Afghanistan

Background/Question/Methods

Warfare has had negative and positive effects on the ecology of natural systems, via a diverse array of direct and indirect mechanisms (Machlis and Hanson 2008). Some conflicts between peoples have created “no man’s lands between them, where wildlife thrives; e.g., the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea.  Other conflicts have resulted in large scale ecological damage to natural systems; e.g., the massive defoliation of Vietnam’s forests during the American Vietnam war.  In this presentation, I examine how the conflict in Afghanistan has impacted its natural systems, and look for insights into the ecological effects of modern conflicts in less developed countries.

Results/Conclusions

The net ecological effects of conflict in Afghanistan have been overwhelmingly negative. There are no stable front lines between opposing forces, and therefore no place for unexploited “no man’s lands.”  Despite the extended conflict, the human population of Afghanistan has maintained high growth rates – by some estimates, among the highest in the world.  At the same time, the conflict prevents economic advancement, preventing much of the rural population from advancing beyond their unsustainable agricultural practice; grasslands are overgrazed, woody vegetation is overharvested for fuel, and unregulated logging continues to deforest Afghan woodlands.  Looking at other less developed countries, warfare often displaces large numbers of very poor people, who severely deplete ecosystem services in their path. Current warfare in the developing world rarely has any positive ecological effects.

However, efforts to recover from warfare provide opportunities for conservation. The US, UN and other international organizations have invested substantial funds towards biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in Afghanistan as part of their development assistance.  This is not unique to Afghanistan: conservation/development projects are employed as part of the post-conflict development effort in the Congo, Sudan, and many other countries.  Efforts to resolve conflicts between countries may also provide opportunities for conservation.   In short: warfare as currently practiced in the developing world has an overwhelming negative effect on ecological systems, but recovery from warfare provides unique opportunities for conservation of ecological systems, and efforts to prevent warfare can provide similar opportunities.