Events

The project partners are convening a series of discussions on post-conflict peacebuilding and natural resources management. These events include:

Past

Authors Meeting: Armed Conflict and Environment: Protecting the Environment During War and Improving Post-Conflict Natural Resource Management — Barcelona, Spain (October 10, 2008).

Part of the World Conservation Congress (October 5-14, 2008), the Authors' Meeting was held October 10th, 2008.

For more information, contact Carl Bruch

Alliance Workshop: Armed Conflict and Environment: Protecting the Environment During War and Improving Post-Conflict Natural Resource Management — Barcelona, Spain (October 7, 2008).

Part of the Alliance Workshops at the World Conservation Congress (October 5-14, 2008), this program was held in Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB), Room 128, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 7th, 2008.

This alliance workshop focused on two key aspects of armed conflict and the environment: (1) how to improve law governing the conduct of war to reduce its effects on the environment and the people who depend on the affected natural resources; and (2) how to enhance post-conflict natural resource management for peacemaking, peacebuilding, and the ultimate transition to peacetime sustainable development.

Despite active legal and conceptual development over the past three decades to improve protections during armed conflict, there are many prescriptive fault lines and practical gaps. These include, for example, the regime governing internal armed conflicts, possible military use being invoked to justify attacks on civilian infrastructure, and use of munitions having obnoxious environmental consequences. During the first part of this workshop, the Specialist Group on Armed Conflict and the Environment will explore opportunities to amend, strengthen, or develop new law and policy governing the conduct of hostilities to improve protections of the environment. The Specialist Group will share the results of and seek feedback regarding ongoing research as well as input into political processes.

The second part of the workshop shared findings of an ongoing effort to take stock of experiences in post-conflict natural resource management. As the international community has become more active in peacemaking, it has also become active in peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery. Over the last few decades, it is become increasingly apparent that effective natural resource management is an essential component of post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery. This session examined lessons learned from specific experiences of post-conflict countries in which natural resources played an important role in peacebuilding and recovery. The session also considered cross-cutting themes, such as post-conflict land tenure reform. The session concluded with a discussion of next steps, such as opportunities with the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

For more information, contact Carl Bruch

Workshop on Post-Conflict Natural Resource Management and Peacebuilding and Third Expert’s Meeting — New York, NY (September 17-18, 2008).

This workshop was held at Columbia University on September 17-18, 2008.

For more information, contact Carl Bruch

International Seminar and Second Experts’ Meeting on Managing Natural Resources in Post-Conflict Societies — Tokyo, Japan (February 28-29, 2008)

The University of Tokyo and ELI organized an international seminar and the second meeting of experts on “Managing Natural Resources in Post-Conflict Societies” on February 28, 2008, in Tokyo. The seminar convened approximately 100 scholars and practitioners to take stock of experiences to date and identify issues for further research and analysis. It followed up on the first experts’ meeting held in Geneva in September 2007. The second expert’s meeting reviewed the proposed table of contents, critiqued proposed author’s templates, and identified opportunities to share results of the project.

A copy of the meeting report may be downloaded here.

This seminar facilitated a series of meetings to follow up and expand upon the previous international meeting in Geneva. These meetings were comprised public seminars as well as small panels of experts. This included a Global Infrastructure Foundation (GIF) Seminar on Emerging Issues in International Infrastructure Development and Management (February 27, 2008).

First Experts’ Meeting on Managing Natural Resources in Post-Conflict Societies: Lessons in Making the Transition to Peace — Geneva, Switzerland (September 17-18, 2007)

Managing Natural Resources in Post-Conflict Societies: In partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Specialist Group on Armed Conflict and the Environment of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, and the University of Tokyo, ELI organized an international meeting on “Managing Natural Resources in Post-Conflict Societies: Lessons in Making the Transition to Peace.” Approximately 35 people participated in the meeting, which was held in Geneva from September 17-18, 2007. The meeting identified a range of post-conflict countries in which natural resources have played an important role in peacebuilding and recovery. The participants shared observations regarding lessons learned and considered a range of follow-up actions to improve post-conflict management of natural resources, particularly as it relates to peacebuilding.

A copy of the meeting report may be downloaded here.