environmental degradation as a cause of conflict in - Steiner Graphics

IntroductionTHE erosion of clay and gardud soils and the depletion of productive lands inthe greater region of Darfur and particularly in northern Darfur as a result ofa relentless desertification process over the past several decades, compelleda forced ecological migration and mass population movement southward in searchof better conditions for pasture and farming. The ability of local people to adaptto the new realities and the subsequent questions of land use and resource sharingcontinued to threaten peaceful coexistence in the area and the social cohesionof the entire community. The situation was destined to incite local tensions andprovoke violent resource-based conflicts. Ecological imbalance, scarcity of water,deforestation, mismanagement of natural resources, claimed inequality in the distributionof available resources and national projects, and the lack of cooperationhave contributed significantly to the present conflict.To explore the interrelationships between environmental depletion and the crisisin Darfur, the University for Peace (UPEACE) in collaboration with the Peace ResearchInstitute held a conference on Environmental Degradation and the Conflictin Darfur, in Sharjah Hall at the University of Khartoum, 15-16 December 2004.It brought together a diverse group of stakeholders. There were one hundred andthirteen participants from various sectors including institutions of higher learning,civil society, women and youth groups, and advocacy organisations. The first sessionwas attended by two hundred and four persons, including the core participantsand observers from international organisations, diplomats from foreign embassiesin Khartoum, and the United Nations Advance Mission in Sudan (UNAMIS).Bakri Saeed and Altayeb Ateya preceded the holding of the conference with severalconsultative meetings, during which they selected an advisory body of expertsin environment, conflict resolution and issues of geopolitical economy and societyin Darfur. The committee also included former provincial governors, governmentministers, and ambassadors with knowledge and experience in political and administrativeaffairs, in addition to international civil servants who had worked for UNbodies and international organisations. In addition to those who had previouslyengaged in bilateral cooperative ventures in related fields. The conference advisorycommittee provided support in terms of promoting the idea of the conference,developing the theme of the meeting, choosing the main topics, suggesting namesof speakers and discussants, setting the provisional shape of the programme, makinguseful contacts with resource and key persons and making their past academiccontributions and documentation available for frequent consultation by organisersand participants.Opening and key speeches delivered by Bakri Saeed, Mary E. King, Altayeb HagAteya and Mohamed Ahmed Elshikh, the Vice Chancellor of Khartoum University, set12