Conflict’s Toll on Biodiversity and Peacebuilding

This headline is brought to you by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR) which works to support resilience and recovery in global communities affected by war and conflict.

(Nature) Since Russia's 2022 invasion, 3 million hectares of Ukraine’s protected areas have been affected by military activity, with significant damage to Sviati Hory National Park. As armed conflicts increase globally, impacts on biodiversity are severe, yet governments and conservation organizations have hesitated to address this in policy. The 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework, agreed upon by nearly 200 countries, overlooked the issue of conflict.

COP16, held in Colombia — a country grappling with biodiversity threats and post-conflict challenges — emphasizes "peace with nature." This approach urges leaders to prioritize the effects of conflict on biodiversity and the role of conservation in peacebuilding. Research has shown that conflicts often accelerate illegal logging and hunting, exacerbating biodiversity loss. Colombia’s initiatives, like the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, and international efforts such as the Kibira Peace Forest project, highlight the potential for integrating biodiversity protection into peace processes, but more research and support are needed.

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