Impact of war on the environment: ecocide
This paper reviews the militaristic consequences on Mother Earth and in particular ecocide or the mass degradation of the biological forms in regards to war. Wars are recorded from the ancient Egyptian dynasty to the modern era, and all are left concerning effects on mother nature such as deforestat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1539520/full |
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| author | Yohannes Desalegn Wirtu Umer Abdela |
| author_facet | Yohannes Desalegn Wirtu Umer Abdela |
| author_sort | Yohannes Desalegn Wirtu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper reviews the militaristic consequences on Mother Earth and in particular ecocide or the mass degradation of the biological forms in regards to war. Wars are recorded from the ancient Egyptian dynasty to the modern era, and all are left concerning effects on mother nature such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and water, and air pollution. Some conflicts that are especially noted are the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and contemporary wars in Ukraine which are considered as examples of ecocide in today’s context. To provide a clearer understanding of our methodology, we employed a comprehensive literature review approach. This involved systematically analyzing existing studies that document the environmental impacts of warfare across various historical and contemporary conflicts. We categorized the findings based on specific environmental consequences, such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Additionally, we incorporated case studies from significant wars to illustrate patterns of ecocide. The paper looks at how environmental hazard is performed through wars such as direct environmental destructive activities like bombings migration of populations and their needs and socio-economic pursuits. Legal instruments especially those at the international level and international environmental law concerning ecocide as a developing crime are also examined for the problem of ecological injustice. Finally, the review looks at rehabilitation and reconstruction measures including community-based efforts like reforestation and the restoration of ecosystems. The paper finally ends by advocating the threats of international ecocide by calling for international cooperation and treaties on ecocide and no environmental degradation in post-war countries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-562e0635e17f4218940aeaef71cb9463 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-562e0635e17f4218940aeaef71cb94632025-02-06T07:10:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-02-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.15395201539520Impact of war on the environment: ecocideYohannes Desalegn WirtuUmer AbdelaThis paper reviews the militaristic consequences on Mother Earth and in particular ecocide or the mass degradation of the biological forms in regards to war. Wars are recorded from the ancient Egyptian dynasty to the modern era, and all are left concerning effects on mother nature such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and water, and air pollution. Some conflicts that are especially noted are the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and contemporary wars in Ukraine which are considered as examples of ecocide in today’s context. To provide a clearer understanding of our methodology, we employed a comprehensive literature review approach. This involved systematically analyzing existing studies that document the environmental impacts of warfare across various historical and contemporary conflicts. We categorized the findings based on specific environmental consequences, such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Additionally, we incorporated case studies from significant wars to illustrate patterns of ecocide. The paper looks at how environmental hazard is performed through wars such as direct environmental destructive activities like bombings migration of populations and their needs and socio-economic pursuits. Legal instruments especially those at the international level and international environmental law concerning ecocide as a developing crime are also examined for the problem of ecological injustice. Finally, the review looks at rehabilitation and reconstruction measures including community-based efforts like reforestation and the restoration of ecosystems. The paper finally ends by advocating the threats of international ecocide by calling for international cooperation and treaties on ecocide and no environmental degradation in post-war countries.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1539520/fullecocidewar environmental impactbiodiversity lossmilitary conflictinternational environmental lawenvironmental justice |
| spellingShingle | Yohannes Desalegn Wirtu Umer Abdela Impact of war on the environment: ecocide Frontiers in Environmental Science ecocide war environmental impact biodiversity loss military conflict international environmental law environmental justice |
| title | Impact of war on the environment: ecocide |
| title_full | Impact of war on the environment: ecocide |
| title_fullStr | Impact of war on the environment: ecocide |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of war on the environment: ecocide |
| title_short | Impact of war on the environment: ecocide |
| title_sort | impact of war on the environment ecocide |
| topic | ecocide war environmental impact biodiversity loss military conflict international environmental law environmental justice |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1539520/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yohannesdesalegnwirtu impactofwarontheenvironmentecocide AT umerabdela impactofwarontheenvironmentecocide |