Armed conflicts have devastating consequences for biodiversity, ecosystems, and the Earthly communities that depend on them. Over 80 percent of the world’s major armed conflicts from 1950 to 2000 occurred in regions identified as biodiversity hotspots-the most biologically diverse and threatened places on Earth. At the same time, nature and larger ecosystems play an important role in recovery, reconciliation, and peacebuilding. Engagement with nature can be a source of relief in contexts of environmental degradation, conflicts, and environmental harm.

This side event will explore how biodiversity conservation is a vehicle for peace, and is a source for cooperation that can be better integrated into responses to armed conflict and post-conflict recovery, drawing on experiences from different countries and contexts.

It will bring participants together to learn from several case studies exemplifying different stages and dimensions of the importance of biodiversity conservation in avoiding and recovering from conflict. 

 

Case studies will include : 

 Case study: Kakhovka dam (Ukraine)

The Kakhovka case will be presented as an example of how war can transform an entire socio-ecological system. The destruction of the dam caused severe ecological damage, affecting rivers, wetlands, protected areas, coastal ecosystems, water security and local communities. At the same time, the former reservoir bed has become a place where spontaneous ecosystem recovery is already taking place. The Ukrainian review describes the destruction of the Kakhovka dam as one of the largest ecological shocks of this period, while also noting the emergence of a paradoxical “window of recovery”, with floodplain forests beginning to form on the former reservoir bed.

This case shows why biodiversity recognition and protection must be integrated into emergency response, recovery planning, ecological restoration and post-conflict peacebuilding from the very beginning.

Case study: rights of rivers

Rights of Nature and rights of rivers approaches as examples of legal and governance innovations that can help address gaps of neglect. These approaches invite a shift from treating nature only as a resource to recognising ecosystems as living systems with their own integrity, needs, and rights. They can create new forms of responsibility, cooperation, and reciprocity between communities, institutions, and nature. 

Other case studies to be confirmed.

The case studies presentation will be followed by interactive group work on future scenarios inspired by the Seeds of a Good Anthropocene approach

Participants will work in small groups on 2 or more scenarios related to the case studies presented. Each group will be invited to discuss:

• What is the main challenge in this scenario?

• What existing “seed” could support recovery or transformation?

• What conditions would this seed need in order to grow?

• How could it contribute to biodiversity conservation, resilience and peacebuilding by 2030?

The exercise will help participants identify how conflict-affected landscapes can become places of ecological restoration, cooperation, justice and long-term resilience.