The environmental impact of military operations is a serious topic, but imagine for a moment if the armed forces decided to ‘go green’. We could see soldiers in recycled camouflage, electric tanks charging themselves with solar panels, and drones distributing seeds to reforest conflict-affected areas. Instead of munitions drills, they could have recycling competitions.
War and the environment
World Environment in Warfare Day on 6 November is a crucial time to reflect on the environmental impact of armed conflict. Established in 2001, it aims to raise awareness among the public and policy makers about the importance of protecting the environment even in war situations.
The destruction caused by wars is not limited to human and material losses, but also extends to ecosystems, which suffer often irreversible damage.
Deforestation, fires, contamination of water and soil resources, and loss of biodiversity are just some of the devastating effects of armed conflicts on the environment.
This environmental damage has direct repercussions on people’s daily lives, affecting human health, food safety and quality of life.
The destruction of natural habitats and protected areas not only endangers the survival of many animal and plant species, but also compromises essential ecosystem services for mankind, such as air and water purification, control of natural resources and soil fertility.
Furthermore, the use of chemical and biological weapons has long-term effects, contaminating the environment for decades and threatening the health of future generations.
Long-term consequences
An emblematic example of the environmental damage caused by armed conflicts is the Vietnam War, during which the United States used Agent Orange, a chemical defoliant, to destroy forests and crops.
This led to the contamination of soil and water resources with dioxins, highly toxic substances that had devastating effects on human health and the environment, with consequences that still persist today, more than sixty years later.
Conflicts in the Middle East, rich in fossil fuels, have often resulted in severe hydrocarbon pollution.
During the 1991 Gulf War, for example, the deliberate release of oil in the Persian Gulf and oil well fires caused one of the worst environmental disasters in history.
This has led to contamination of marine waters, destruction of coastal habitats and serious health problems for local populations. These effects have persisted over a long period of time, with oily residues impregnating the soil and trapping fauna.
The ‘Zone Rouge‘ is a series of areas in north-eastern France that were isolated after the First World War.
These areas, originally covering over 1,200 square kilometres, were so damaged by the conflict that they were considered uninhabitable due to the high presence of pollutants and unexploded ammunition.
Even today, after more than a hundred years, although the area has been reduced, restrictions on activities such as construction, agriculture or forestry persist due to contamination from unexploded ordnance and toxic substances such as mercury, lead, chlorine, arsenic, etc.
Conflict prevention and remediation
International treaties and agreements have been established to protect the environment during armed conflicts; one of the main ones is the Geneva Convention, which includes specific protocols for the protection of the natural environment in times of war.
Furthermore, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention prohibit the use of weapons that can cause extensive environmental damage.
The reclamation of these territories is an arduous task that requires a multidisciplinary approach and the use of state-of-the-art technologies.
Bioremediation uses microorganisms to degrade harmful substances in soil and water, transforming them into less hazardous or even harmless compounds.
This biological process is particularly effective for the treatment of organic contaminants such as hydrocarbons and pesticides.
In parallel, the use of hyperaccumulator plants appears to be an effective method for removing heavy metals from the soil.
Phyto-purification exploits the properties of certain aquatic plants to purify contaminated water through mechanisms of absorption, filtration and degradation of pollutants.
Apart from the technical aspects, prevention, i.e. avoiding war, is always the best solution in the short, medium and long term.
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