On the 6th of November, we observe and acknowledge the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. This day has been recognized and honored by the United Nations since 2001.  

This powerful day reminds us that, beyond the human tragedy of armed conflict, Mother Nature herself is often a silent and long-suffering victim of war. The word that comes to mind, is ecocide, which means: destruction of the natural environment by deliberate or negligent human action.

Our founder, Tenzin Ösel Hita, once said, “…we must put pressure on all parties to engage in sincere dialogue to understand each other’s point of view and concerns and work together to reach an agreement. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. War is obsolete. This must be the century of dialogue and understanding. Everything is interconnected. There is NO winner in a war.”

A forest damaged by war***

In war-torn regions, environmental degradation is widespread and multi-layered. Bombing and shelling destroy infrastructure, but they also devastate our ecosystems. For example, water wells become polluted, soils are poisoned, and forests are cut down or burned. Wildlife suffers too, as animals are killed directly or lose their habitats.

Conflicts also exploit natural resources. Over the past six decades, at least 40 percent of all internal conflicts have been linked to resource extraction, things like timber, diamonds, oil, fertile land, and water. These finite and precious resources can fuel war, but once the fighting is over, the damage remains. The land remains polluted, deforested areas remain, and destroyed water infrastructure makes recovery very difficult.

The environmental impacts are not limited to war itself. Toxic debris, including unexploded ordnance (military ammunition that failed to detonate when it was supposed to and still poses a risk of explosion), heavy metals, and chemical contamination, can remain for decades, harming both ecological and human health. Moreover, the damage to natural resources undermines the very basis of livelihoods, food security, and economic recovery. Thus, making sustainable peace even harder to achieve.

An example of nature being destroyed by war.*

Legal, Social, and Ethical Dimensions

Protecting our environment in times of conflict is not just a moral imperative. It’s also a legal one. Under international humanitarian law (the Geneva Conventions’ Additional Protocol I), parties are prohibited from engaging in warfare that causes “widespread, long-term and severe damage” to the natural environment.

Additionally, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has worked hard to build the concept of environmental peacebuilding. The idea is simple: healthy ecosystems and sustainable resource management can be part of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and rebuilding. This means that when natural resources are managed fairly and inclusively, they can support not only reconstruction but also reconciliation.

How to Prevent the Exploitation of the Environment During Conflict

Integrate environmental protection into peacebuilding: Peacekeeping missions, post-conflict reconstruction, and aid programs must prioritize restoring ecosystems, cleaning up hazardous materials, and rebuilding environmental governance.

Promote resource-sensitive diplomacy: Preventive diplomacy can address tensions over resources, like water, land, or minerals, before they spiral into conflict.

Strengthen legal frameworks: International norms such as the Principles on the Protection of the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflicts (PERAC) help define obligations before, during, and after hostilities.

Raise awareness and include civil society: Observing the day of 6 November is not just symbolic: involving local communities, environmental NGOs, and civil society helps spotlight environmental damage and mobilizes pressure on governments to act.

Monitor, assess, rebuild: After the conflict ends, there must be a systematic assessment of environmental harm, followed by remediation. This includes decontaminating soils, clearing unexploded ordnance, restoring forests, and rebuilding water systems. Long-term monitoring is crucial!

A forest in Germany where tanks are abandoned**

With respect to all of the above-mentioned, what can we do from our side to support Mother Nature and our global community?

These are some ideas:

We can educate our community about how reforestation and ecosystem restoration are not just climate issues – they are peace issues.

We can advocate for post-conflict restoration in countries recovering from war, emphasizing trees and green infrastructure in rebuilding plans.

And, we can collaborate with peacebuilding organizations to support environmental restoration projects in fragile or post-conflict states.

To conclude this article, let’s reflect upon the words of one of our environmental heroes, the Dalai Lama. He says, “The source of peace is within us; so also the source of war. And the real enemy is within us, and not outside. The source of war is not the existence of nuclear weapons or other arms. It is the minds of human beings who decide to push the button and to use those arms out of hatred, anger, or greed.”

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References:
Wikipedia
GICJ
UNEP
Dalai Lama quote
Ösel quote: Facebook post d.d. 17 March 2022

Image references:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_war
Title Image source: Wikipedia
* Image source: YaleEnvironment360
** Image source: Outono 
*** Image source: Harvard Public Health