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The environmental impact of UN Peace Operations

By Maj. Marina BIZZOTTO

UN Headquarters has recently high lined that environmental management is one of the most critical
and sensitive aspects that could interfere with and affect a Peace Mission.
Addressing natural resources as a part of the post conflict peacebuilding is thus mandatory in
order to avoid the creation of new forms of grievance and thus to achieve a peace more stable,
robust and resilient to conflict relapse.
Security Council Resolution 1625
on conflict prevention recognizes
the link between trafficking of
natural resources and conflict and
requests the Secretary- General to
reaffirm its determination to take
action against illegal exploitation
and trafficking of natural
resources and high-value
commodities in areas where it
contributes to the outbreak,
escalation or continuation of
armed conflict.
It is necessary to adapt strategy of management of natural resources that allow creating
employment, sustaining livelihoods and contributing to economic recovery and reconciliation.
According to this new UN vision, the CoESPU has instituted a dedicated chair and with this
instrument the Center wants to share some common environmental concepts, to involve the students
in more green friendly behaviours and to create a sort of awareness which could be the fundamental
tool to prevent environmental damages and pollution.
But we need to better understand… what is the real meaning of the word “environment”?
“Take anything and you find out that it is tied to everything else in the Universe” John Muir, the
famous glaciologist said in the 19°
century. And it is real and still current:
the environment is a crosscutting theme,
it need to be seen without any prefixed
scheme but with the capability to
recognize all the interrelations that could
occur in.
The environment is a complex subject but
a general agreement has been found on
some of its features: it is a collection of
items involving matters –natural
environment (soil, water, air
composition), biodiversity, wild species
of flora and fauna, landscape – and the

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