The Role of the Military in Environmental Security Operations and Environmental Peacebuilding

Richard Marcantonio, University of Notre Dame, United States;

The rate of global environmental change continues to accelerate. So too is the rate of conflict proliferating globally. These two phenomena are distinct but with complex interactions and often shared outcomes. Countries and communities continue to seek innovative ways to mitigate or adapt to these unfolding realities. Increasingly military units are being utilized for a range of mission sets related to environmental security operations and environmental peacebuilding. While the use of the military for such work is not necessarily new, for example the deployment of the military for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. However, the range and frequency of operations is new, resulting in emerging questions about the appropriate role of the military in environmental security operations and environmental peacebuilding. This study will first map the emerging types of military involvement in these areas. Second, it will explore in-depth the case study of the 6th Special Forces Brigade's environmental security and peacebuilding operations in the Madre de Dios River Valley, drawing on empirical evidence generated working in partnership with military units, governance and civil society officials and communities.