From Conflict to Peacebuilding: The Role of Natural Resources and the Environment

Humans depend on the environment and natural resources for their survival. Although environmental factors are rarely, if ever, the sole cause of conflict – ideology, ethnicity, and economic factors are all connected to violent conflict – research shows that environmental stress and the exploitation of natural resources can increase the severity and duration of conflict, and complicate its resolution. Attempts to control or gain access to scarce or extractive natural resources can contribute to the outbreak of conflict. If access to the direct use of scarce land, forest, water or wildlife resources leads to marginalization or exclusion of certain groups, they become easy targets for political manipulation. Easily exploited natural resources may also alter the dynamics of conflict and turn a political activity into an economic one. High-value extractive resources can finance military operations and sustain a conflict. The prospect of peace may be undermined by individuals or factions that benefit from conflict conditions as they are in control of revenues from resource exploitation.