Assessing and Restoring Natural Resources In Post-Conflict Peacebuilding

Violent conflict invariably disrupts people's livelihoods, the natural environment, social and political institutions, and the economy at all levels. Restoring peace and rebuilding society can be arduous, but immediate action at the cessation of conflict is essential. This book examines how conflicts degrade natural resources and addresses the consequences for human health, livelihoods, and security. This book provides a concise theoretical and practical framework for policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and students.

David Jensen manages the Environmental Cooperation for Peacebuilding Programme of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Steve Lonergan is a Professor Emeritus of Geography at the University of Victoria and former director of the UNEP Division of Early Warning and Assessment.

Foreword Placing Environment and Natural Resource Risks, Impacts, and Opportunities on the Post-Conflict Peacebuilding Agenda Part 1: Post-Conflict Environmental Assessments Introduction 1. Evaluating the Impact of UNEP's Post-Conflict Environmental Assessments 2. Environment and Peacebuilding in War-torn Societies: Lessons from the UN Environment Programme's Experience with Post-Conflict Assessment 3. Medical and Environmental Intelligence in Peace and Crisis-Management Operations 4. Thinking Back-end: Improving Post-Conflict Analysis through Consulting, Adapting to Change, and Scenario Building Part 2: Remediation of Environmental Hot Spots Introduction 5. Salting the Earth: Environmental Health Challenges in Post-Conflict Reconstruction 6. Remediation of Polluted Sites in the Balkans, Iraq, and Sierra Leone 7. The Risks of Depleted Uranium Contamination in Post-Conflict Countries: Findings and Lessons learned from UNEP Field Assessments 8. Linking Demining to Post-Conflict Peacebuilding: A Case Study of Cambodia Part 3: Restoration of Natural Resources and Ecosystems Introduction 9. Restoration of Damaged Land in Societies Recovering from Conflict: The Case of Lebanon 10. Ecological Restoration and Peacebuilding: The Case of the Iraqi Marshes 11. Haiti: Lessons Learned and Way Forward in Natural Resource Management Projects 12. Peacebuilding and Adaptation to Climate Change Part 4: Environmental Dimensions of Infrastructure and Reconstruction Introduction 13. Addressing Infrastructure Needs in Post-Conflict Reconstruction: An Introduction to Alternative Planning Approaches 14. Mitigating the Environmental Impacts of Post-Conflict Assistance: Assessing USAID's Approach 15. Challenges and Opportunities for Mainstreaming Environmental Assessment Tools in Post-Conflict Settings 16. Environmental Assessment as a Tool for Peacebuilding and Development: Initial Lessons from Capacity Building in Sierra Leone 17. Natural Resources, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, and Regional Integration: Lessons from the Marshall Plan and other Regional Reconstruction Efforts 18. Making Best use of Domestic Energy Sources: The Priority Production System for Coal Mining and Steel Production in Post-World War II Japan 19. Road Infrastructure Reconstruction as a Peacebuilding Priority in Afghanistan: Negative Implications for Land Rights 20. Evaluating Post-Conflict Assistance Part 5: Lessons Learned 21. Natural Resources and Post-Conflict Restoration, Remediation, and Reconstruction: Lessons and Way Forward