The world’s ongoing armed conflicts are increasingly jeopardizing vital biodiversity protection initiatives, according to the director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Programme on Protected Areas. Speaking at a recent virtual conference focusing on environmental security, Dr. Luther Evans asserted that while conservation has often been overlooked in conflict zones, the cumulative impact of war and instability is now actively undermining decades of conservation progress, particularly in regions across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Data presented during the conference, compiled from UN environmental monitoring reports and satellite imagery, revealed a sharp increase in illegal wildlife trade and destructive resource extraction—such as illegal logging and mining—within or adjacent to designated protected areas following the outbreak of sustained hostilities. Furthermore, Dr. Evans noted that military operations themselves often disrupt delicate ecological systems, citing examples where tank movements have decimated critical nesting grounds and refugee influxes have dramatically increased pressure on limited water and fuel supplies within national parks. The resultant chaos also makes it nearly impossible for park rangers and international aid organizations to safely access or monitor these vulnerable regions. Dr. Evans urged policymakers and international bodies, including the UN Security Council, to formally integrate environmental protection strategies into conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction mandates, emphasizing that securing natural resources is fundamentally linked to long-term peace and sustainable development.

War Escalates Wildlife Crisis in Protected Zones

Ongoing violent conflicts globally are posing a severe and often overlooked threat to biodiversity, actively dismantling critical nature conservation efforts worldwide. This alarming trend was recently highlighted by Dr. Luther Evans, Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Programme on Protected Areas, who called for urgent international action to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems trapped within war zones.

Addressing an environmental security forum, Dr. Evans explained that protected areas, initially seen as peripheral to military considerations, are now bearing the brunt of destabilization. The confluence of diminished governance, mass displacement, and military activity creates a perfect storm for ecological damage, particularly visible across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

Conflict Fuels Illegal Resource Exploitation

Evidence presented at the conference, synthesizing data from UN monitoring efforts and recent satellite analysis, shows a definitive correlation between prolonged conflict and heightened environmental degradation. Areas surrounding active conflict zones report a drastic spike in illegal activities.

“When basic rule of law collapses, protected nature becomes an open resource for exploitation,” Dr. Evans stated. “We are seeing a rapid and destructive uptick in illegal logging, uncontrolled mining, and sophisticated wildlife trafficking specifically targeting designated protected areas, reversing decades of painstaking conservation work.”

Beyond organized crime, military operations themselves inflict direct, irreparable damage. Examples cited include specialized military vehicle movements destroying ecologically sensitive habitats, such as vital animal nesting grounds. Furthermore, the massive displacement of populations escaping persecution places unprecedented demands on scarce resources within these sanctuaries, straining limited water, food, and fuel supplies.

Safety Barriers Halt Conservation Work

The primary operational challenge is the pervasive insecurity that prevents effective monitoring and intervention. Conflict zones are simply too dangerous for park rangers, researchers, and international conservation organizations to access safely. The resulting vacuum allows illegal actors to operate with impunity, unchecked by law enforcement or conservation patrols.

Dr. Evans issued a powerful plea to global decision-makers to rethink how environmental security is approached during crises. He stressed that protecting nature is not a luxury, but a fundamental component of achieving stability and peace.

Key Action Points for International Bodies:

• Integrate Environmental Mandates: The UN Security Council and regional peacekeeping missions must formally integrate environmental protection strategies into their conflict resolution blueprints.
• Prioritise Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Secure natural resources through dedicated, well-funded environmental restoration projects as a crucial early step in post-conflict reconstruction.
• Support Local Rangers: Provide financial and logistical support, including necessary security escorts, to allow local park rangers to resume essential monitoring functions immediately upon de-escalation.

Securing vulnerable ecosystems in conflict zones is essential. As Dr. Evans summarized, long-term regional stability depends intrinsically on the resilience and sustainability of the natural resources upon which communities rely. The fate of global biodiversity now rests heavily on the international community’s ability to act decisively against this devastating intersection of war and environmental destruction.