ESSD Session 6 Mersie Ejigu PPT

PREPARING SOCIETY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: HOW GOVERNMENTS, NGOS, THE MEDIA AND LEARNING NETWORKS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE: 

The Hague Conference on Environmental Security and Sustainable Development 9-12 May 2004 The Peace Palace PREPARING SOCIETY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: HOW GOVERNMENTS, NGOS, THE MEDIA AND LEARNING NETWORKS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

What is Partnership for African Environmental Sustainability (PAES): 

What is Partnership for African Environmental Sustainability (PAES) PAES is an NGO established to promote environmentally and socially sustainable development based on science and best practices Primary focus is policy research, policy advice and development Headquartered in Kampala with offices in Lusaka and Washington, D.C.

Africa’s environment induced conflicts: 

Africa’s environment induced conflicts Africa has experienced: more than 30 wars since 1970 more than 200 coups or attempted since 1950 In 2000, 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa experienced conflict in 2000 change in frequency, nature and magnitude of these conflicts experiencing ongoing or sporadic conflict, or were in a tenuous recovery phase

The project: integrating environmental security concerns in development policy : 

The project: integrating environmental security concerns in development policy EU funded project to study the link between environmental insecurity and armed conflict in Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda. Focused on two ecosystems: agricultural land and fresh water

Study countries: 

Study countries

Key terms: 

Key terms Environment Environmental security Conflict

Data sources: 

Data sources Literature review Secondary sources Primary sources(household surveys + community group focused discussions)

Key findings:: 

Key findings: Farm size is small and declining High incidence of land fragmentation Increased cultivation intensity Growing landlessness Grazing land too short supply Water stress and scarcity Emerging land transactions /underground/ black market

Population resource imbalance: 

Population resource imbalance In the 1950s when settlement systems were established, my father received 4ha land from administrative officials. He had 9 sons. I inherited only 0.45 ha (i.e. 4 ha divided by 9), which is now my sole land property. I have 11 children who must share the 0.45 ha. This means that each of the children will inherit 0.04 ha land, i.e. 4 hundred square metres. This land is just enough to put up a house.” Source: PAES Survey, Burundi, 2003.

Slide11: 

Plate 4. Severe soil erosion leads to gullies as found in areas adjacent to Kibale National park.

Key findings: 

Key findings Continuous shifts in coping strategies Sell small livestock Sell large animals Casual wage Reduce food consumption Relief dependent Migration

Mapping of population movements in Uganda: 

Mapping of population movements in Uganda I

Types of environment induced conflicts:: 

Types of environment induced conflicts: Cultivator - Cultivator over inheritance over individualizing the commons resistance to settling migrants returnees and claims to original (ancestral) land Cultivator –Herder Herder – Herder State – cultivator and State - herder

Study conclusions: 

Study conclusions Environmental insecurity plays significant role in causing, triggering and aggravating violent conflicts influenced by: Population mobility Societal heterogeneity Economic deprivation (poverty) Deficient property rights Failed state and governance

Slide17: 

Table 1. Poverty Estimates by Village, 1994 Source: Elizabeth, 1997

Conclusions (cont.): 

Conclusions (cont.) The majority of rural communities relate conflicts to scarcity of and competition over access, use and transfer of land. In many cases, ethnicity was used as a cover for environment-induced conflicts.

Conclusions (cont.): 

Conclusions (cont.) Water stress and scarcity are widely felt in the study countries, although only few reported actual conflicts over water

Property use rights- the case of the Nile waters: source (FAO): 

Property use rights- the case of the Nile waters: source (FAO)

Study conclusions (cont.): 

Study conclusions (cont.) There are well established indigenous institutional arrangements for managing conflicts in the study countries.

Study conclusions (cont.): 

Study conclusions (cont.) Conflict prevention and resolution processes and programs can bring sustainable peace if anchored in sound tenure policy and sustainable land management practices.

How and where governments, civil society and private sector can made a difference: 

How and where governments, civil society and private sector can made a difference Integrating environmental security concerns in development policy. Putting in place an integrated management of environmental risks including conflicts, natural and manmade disasters and health risks. Putting in place a national sustainable development strategy. Strengthening and developing state capacity

Making a difference:: 

Making a difference: Promote governance – rule of law, protection of property, democratic culture Institute effective conflict prevention and resolution process that is derived from indigenous or traditional peace making institutions. Enhance regional cooperation and integration as a way to reduce inter-state conflict.

Making a difference (cont.): 

Making a difference (cont.) International community: take into account environmental security concerns in designing their conflict management programmes. Private sector: Invest in non-traditional private sector areas like water shed management, soil and water conservation, reafforestation

Civil society: 

Civil society Communicate knowledge and promote awareness Strengthen alliance with state organizations and private sector

Closing remarks: 

Closing remarks Conflict management is a development agenda. Sound environmental management (environmental security), as an integral part of development, is an important tool for the attainment of sustainable peace and development.