IMPORTANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR PEACEBUILDING HIGHLIGHTED IN NEW BOOK SERIES

Environmental Panorama
International
November of 2011


Tue, Nov 15, 2011
A new study published by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partners examines key challenges faced by post-conflict countries in peacefully and sustainably developing their natural resources, while avoiding major environmental degradation.
The new book features case studies from more than 18 countries, including small-scale mining in DR Congo.

Washington DC / Nairobi, 15 November 2011 - Using case studies from over 30 countries and analysis from 39 expert authors, a new study published by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partners examines key challenges faced by post-conflict countries in peacefully and sustainably developing their natural resources, while avoiding major environmental degradation.

Covering over 55 conflict-affected countries, the series represents one of the most comprehensive studies to date of the link between managing natural resources, such as oil, diamonds, gold and timber and post-conflict peacebuilding.

"Certain countries are blessed with valuable natural resources that can contribute to grievances and conflict," says ELI President John Cruden. "However, in post-conflict situations, there lies a unique opportunity to thoughtfully manage high-value natural resources to support economic development, livelihoods, good governance, and ultimately peace and stability."

The book includes a foreword by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

Sirleaf states that peace brings high expectations, especially in a country with abundant natural resources. "We had to turn this natural resource 'curse' into a blessing," she notes, "But where to start?"

United Nations Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said the research effort answers an important call by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for a greater focus on the links between natural resources, conflict, and peacebuilding.

"This project can make significant contributions towards improving post-conflict resource management through sharing lessons learned and best practices," said Mr. Steiner.

"As a result it can assist in the transition towards low-carbon, resource efficient Green Economies in post-conflict nations and thus contribute to stability, peace, recovery and sustainable development," he added.

The book gives insight to a variety of natural resource management strategies, addressing the different steps of the natural resource value-chain, from extraction to distribution and spending revenues.

It highlights four areas where international support can be particularly fruitful:

These include:

Assisting post-conflict countries to secure better contracts with companies extracting natural resources

Increasing the transparency of contracts, payments, and decision making

Supporting the monitoring of companies that are extracting natural resources

Encouraging strategic planning for and accountability in using the revenues from natural resources to provide immediate peace dividends to war-torn populations and invest in infrastructure, health, education, and economic diversification.

Providing insight on the management process, the book aims to benefit national and local governments, extractive industries, civil society organizations, and the international community. It also provides invaluable lessons for the UN's peace and security institutions, including the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

The four-year project will yield more than 150 peer-reviewed case studies and analyses by 230 scholars, practitioners, and decision makers from 50 countries.

These case studies and analyses are being assembled into a set of six edited books - to be published by Earthscan - addressing the following topics: high-value natural resources, land, water, resources for livelihoods, assessment and restoration of natural resources and governance.

The project is also producing an overarching book, published by Cambridge University Press (2012): Post-conflict peacebuilding and natural resources: The promise and the peril.

+ More

New Environmental Training Toolkit for Humanitarian Sector

Tue, Nov 15, 2011
From today, humanitarian workers around the world can access training and practical information to help them anticipate and minimize the negative environmental impacts of relief and recovery operations.
Geneva, 15 November 2011 - From today, humanitarian workers around the world can access training and practical information to help them anticipate and minimize the negative environmental impacts of relief and recovery operations.
Environment, Humanitarian Action and Early RecoveryWhether through direct damage to land, water or air, or through coping strategies that can place further pressure on scarce natural resources, environmental impacts in the aftermath of crises can threaten the success of recovery activities and leave populations more vulnerable to future events.

A new training toolkit, entitled Integrating the environment into humanitarian action and early recovery, addresses the different ways in which the environment can be taken into account in humanitarian action, not least how to help protect the natural resources crucial to recovery.

Developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Groupe URD, with support from the Flemish International Cooperation Agency, the training consists of 11 modules which cover topics ranging from key environmental concepts and solutions for sustainable logistics to waste management in emergency situations and alternative energy sources.

Extensive research went into developing the training materials, and UNEP and Groupe URD conducted pilot training activities in Chad, South Africa and Zimbabwe to refine and test the modules.

The free toolkit is being distributed to humanitarian organizations and national authorities in DVD format.

"Environmental awareness during life saving humanitarian actions is crucial to optimize chances for a sustainable reconstruction and rehabilitation of the disaster area," said Kris Peeters, Minister-President of Flanders.

"By supporting the UNEP capacity building training program for humanitarian organizations, the Government of Flanders wants to emphasize that it is important that also in emergency aid long term sustainability is taken into account as of day one," the Minister-President added.

UNEP also is also launching today the French version of its online Resource Centre for Mainstreaming Environment into Humanitarian Action available at: http://postconflict.unep.ch/humanitarianaction.

It is a comprehensive online collection of guidelines, training materials, case studies and other practical information from more than 40 organizations explaining how to integrate environmental considerations into humanitarian action, arranged according to sector and environmental issue.

UNEP launched the resource centre in English in August 2010 in response to a clear need from humanitarian organizations for reliable and current information on incorporating environmental considerations into their policy and strategy development, programme design and relief activities.

To ensure the resource centre provides the best available current information, UNEP is calling for ongoing contributions of resources in any languages from NGOs, governments, UN agencies, the private sector and academic and research institutions.

 
 

Source: United Nations Environment Programme
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