The War Against Nature

Observed annually on November 6th, the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict was declared by the UN General Assembly in 2001. The day aims to raise awareness about the environmental damage caused by conflict and to highlight the link between resource exploitation and armed violence.

Environmental degradation does not stop at the battlefield—it affects ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being for generations. This day reminds us that a sustainable and protected environment is fundamental to achieving lasting peace.

Please also read: Environmental impact of the war in Ukraine.

Devastating impact of armed conflicts

The devastating impact of armed conflicts on nature is a global issue. In regions such as the Middle East and Africa, wars have led to widespread deforestation, desertification, and pollution of vital water sources. The burning of oil wells in Kuwait during the Gulf War created massive air and soil contamination, while the use of chemical weapons and explosives in Syria and Iraq severely damaged agricultural lands and biodiversity. In parts of Southeast Asia, remnants of war such as landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to threaten wildlife and hinder reforestation decades after fighting has ended. These examples show that the environment, often overlooked in post-war recovery, bears long-lasting scars that can take generations to heal.

The book on war against nature

On October 31, a presentation for the book “National Nature Park ‘Kamianska Sich’: The War Against Nature.” took place in Ukraine.

This publication is the first of its kind in Ukraine! And it documents the past, present, and future of the deoccupied National Nature Park “Kamianska Sich. It was written by a team of biologists, ecologists, and lawyers dedicated to revealing the environmental consequences of war.

Authors and experts took part in the presentations emphasised:

• Professor Olexander Khodosovtsev, PhD in Biological Sciences and Correspondent Member of the NAS of Ukraine, emphasized that this is the first Ukrainian book focused on the impact of war on natural ecosystems.
• Dr. Ivan Moysiyenko, Head of the Department of Kherson State University, noted that since the Park’s establishment in 2019, active scientific work has been carried out with the participation of researchers from Ukraine and Europe.
• Sergiy Skoryk, Director of the Park, shared the challenges faced by staff during occupation—working in combat zones, demining, extinguishing fires, removing military waste, and continuing biodiversity monitoring under extremely difficult conditions.
• Dr. Kateryna Polyanska, ecologist of the “Environment People Law“, described nature as a “silent victim of war.” She stressed that the book gives voice to ecosystems suffering from destruction and chemical pollution.
• Dr. Anna A. Kuzemko, Leading Scientific Fellow of the Institute of Botany (NAS of Ukraine), reported that after the destruction of the Kakhovka HydroPowerPlant, scientists discovered unique ecosystems that had not been recorded before in Ukraine.
• Academician Yakiv Didukh, Head of the Department at the Institute of Botany, explained the complexity of ecosystem recovery, noting the remarkable resilience of floodplain vegetation striving to regenerate after devastation.
• Dr. Olexander Garbar, Professor at Zhytomyr State University, highlighted the crucial role of modern geoinformation technologies in mapping the environmental damage and tracking spatial changes in the Park during wartime.
• Finally, Solomiya Baran, legal counselor of Environment People Law, emphasised the importance of verified evidence of environmental damage for future compensation and international legal processes. The book, she noted, serves as a valuable database of documented harm and scientific data to support such efforts.

The publication of “National Nature Park ‘Kamianska Sich’: The War Against Nature.” is a powerful reminder that the environment often becomes an unspoken casualty of war. As the world observes the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, Ukraine’s experience underscores the urgent need to protect ecosystems even amidst human conflict.

The book can be accessed in Ukrainian free of charge here