Conflict and Environment

INTRODUCTION

The linkage between conflict and the environment is becoming increasingly well documented in a growing body of literature. This is because conflict is a very serious problem in parts of Africa and the world at large today where many countries are at risk of conflicts, engaged in conflict, emerging from conflict, or in a long-term recovery phase. These conflicts are devastating. They cause untold suffering and enormous loss of human life; they fragment societies and shatter economies. They also wreak devastating harm on the environment, biodiversity, and the natural resources upon which people depend. Thus, these impacts are suffered long after conflicts end.

This paper discusses the linkage between conflict and environmental degradation. By so doing, the paper will begin by defining major concepts: conflict and environmental degradation. It will further show the different types of conflict, causes, duration and intensity of conflicts. Thereafter it will discuss how conflict contributes to the formulation of sound environmental management policies within and between countries.

DEFINATION OF CONCEPTS

Environmental degradation can be man-made or natural. However, Man-made environmental degradation is that which is caused by human activities which manifest themselves in deforestation, desertification, overgrazing, soil erosion, pollution (air, water and noise), biodiversity loss, ozone layer depletion, acid rain and green house effect. On the other hand, natural environmental degradation is that which occurs naturally, for instance, the release of methane gas from arctic tundra and wetlands. The concept of environmental degradation can therefore be defined as a deterioration in the conditions of a resource, often to the point where it is not possible or easy to put it back in its original state, (Giddens 2006:126). In other words, it can