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He also observed that FPUs can contact their own country’s intelligence personnel for advice and
assistance.
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In 2017 the UN issued a policy “Peacekeeping Intelligence.” However, this policy is focused
more on the processes of collecting, protecting, and disseminating intelligence than on the value
to the mission. As UN security resolutions (mandates) are the overarching guidance for the
heads of mission, it would make sense for the mandates to address environmental factors: first,
environmental crime as a destabilizing factor that precludes mission accomplishment, and,
second, environmental management as a stabilizing factor that can build and sustain the
economy and health of society.

The Mandates

It does seem that newer mandates account for the threat that environmental crime poses to
mission success. Of the current fifteen peacekeeping missions, three directly recognize
environmental issues – two from a threat perspective and one from a sustainability perspective.
Although all security resolutions related to the current missions were reviewed, the figure below
reflects the current mandates being implemented.
The mandates were reviewed for recognition that environment, organized crime, terrorism, and
corruption (a proxy for criminalized power structure) impact the success of the mission. The
green “x” reflects a recognition that environmental management will bring positive benefits to
the society; the red “x” reflects concern
that illicit trafficking and exploitation of
national resources is negatively impacting
stabilization.
As expected, older mandates do not
address the issues. These mandates are
traditional peacekeeping missions
designed to keep warring parties apart and
keep them from rearming. Also as
expected, the central concern of most
newer peacekeeping mandates is protection of civilians (POC). POC is rightly at the heart of
almost all missions. And, as missions are contextual, the Security Council appears to focus on
the most glaring problems.
The only mandate that has clearly tied environmental and organized crime and terrorism together
as threats is MINUSCA’s.
Expressing concern that illicit trafficking, trade, exploitation and smuggling of
natural resources including gold, diamonds and wildlife has a negative impact
in the economy and the development of the country, and that it continues to
threaten the peace and stability of the CAR… Further noting with concern the
ongoing transnational criminal activity in the region, emphasizing the risk of the
situation in the CAR providing a conducive environment for further

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