environmental degradation as a cause of conflict in - Steiner Graphics
environmental degradation as a cause of conflict in - Steiner Graphics 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
the theme of the conference, outlined the objectives, made an introduction to theconflict in Darfur and the recent developments, highlighted peace-building strategiesand backgrounds, and prepared the ground for scholarly and straight-thinkingdeliberations. In addition to the comprehensive exploration of the situation inDarfur, links were established to international concerns and essential documentssuch as the Millennium Development Goals, the report on Responsibility to Protect,the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the UN Secretary-General’s report on Causes of Conflict in Africa and the High-Level Panel on Threats,Challenges and Change. Special reference was made by Dr Mary E. King, who spokeon peace building as a bridge between conflict resolution and peace, to the reportof Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel, which had been released two weeks priorto the conference, on 1 December 2004, which states that environmental degradationresults in the killing of millions every year and threatens human security.Following the end of the conference, Dr Saeed, Dr King, and Abduljabar Abdalla,Vice Chancellor of the University of El-Fashir, held a press conference at the MeridienHotel in Kharoum. The conference was attended by approximately twentyjournalists representing daily newspapers, radio, and television. The Blue Nile TVChannel covered the news conference, providing a comprehensive report includinginterviews with the organisers. The three speakers at the news conferencepresented the findings of the meeting and responded to the questions from mediarepresentatives.Objectives of the MeetingInternal actors and the international community are exerting substantial effortsto resolve the immediate issues of the deadly crisis in Darfur – a region the sizeof France with a population of more than five million. Such labours fall into threecategories: humanitarian assistance, improvement in the security situation to allowthe safe return of refugees, and attempts to reach a political settlement betweenthe rebel groups and the government of Sudan. These efforts may eventually resolvethe present crisis; yet they leave the door open for further acute conflicts.It is therefore essential to address the root causes of the problem – competitionover depleted natural resources, desertification, water scarcity, and environmentaldepletion. Hence the conference on Environmental Degradation and the Conflict inDarfur was expected to achieve the following objectives:• To provide a platform for the interrogation of the major issues related to environmentaldegradation and land use in Darfur, thus allowing academics and13
- Page 1: ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATIONAS A CAUSE
- Page 4 and 5: Cover Photo:AU forces patrol Darfur
- Page 7 and 8: PREFACEThese essays were originally
- Page 9 and 10: AcknowledgementsThe conference was
- Page 11: Executive SummaryByMary E. King and
- Page 15 and 16: • The question of warrior culture
- Page 17 and 18: Deryke Belshaw, University of East
- Page 19 and 20: area in West Darfur of 1.5m feddans
- Page 21 and 22: on the interaction between conflict
- Page 23 and 24: Conflict In DarfurHistorical andCon
- Page 25 and 26: distributive centre and where the r
- Page 28 and 29: sues quite separate. Evidence for t
- Page 30 and 31: FOOTNOTES1It is not my purpose here
- Page 32 and 33: 20On other emerging ethnically-base
- Page 34 and 35: IntroductionTHE Greater Darfur regi
- Page 36 and 37: 2. Agriculture (Farming)Crop farmin
- Page 38 and 39: Secondly, the demand for mutton and
- Page 40 and 41: groundnut and sesame as sources of
- Page 42 and 43: The situation of drinking water in
- Page 44 and 45: ReferencesConference, Meleet, North
- Page 46 and 47: IntroductionTHE residents of the Um
- Page 48 and 49: Phase Two:This phase was a monitori
- Page 50 and 51: zone southward — and to use these
- Page 52 and 53: • Some water points in places lik
- Page 54 and 55: This study and the seminar organize
- Page 57 and 58: Land Tenure,Land Use andConflicts i
- Page 59 and 60: tain innovations called hakura (pl.
- Page 61 and 62: mands for food production. All thes
the theme <strong>of</strong> the conference, outl<strong>in</strong>ed the objectives, made an <strong>in</strong>troduction to the<strong>conflict</strong> <strong>in</strong> Darfur and the recent developments, highlighted peace-build<strong>in</strong>g strategiesand backgrounds, and prepared the ground for scholarly and straight-th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>gdeliberations. In addition to the comprehensive exploration <strong>of</strong> the situation <strong>in</strong>Darfur, l<strong>in</strong>ks were established to <strong>in</strong>ternational concerns and essential documentssuch <strong>as</strong> the Millennium Development Goals, the report on Responsibility to Protect,the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the UN Secretary-General’s report on Causes <strong>of</strong> Conflict <strong>in</strong> Africa and the High-Level Panel on Threats,Challenges and Change. Special reference w<strong>as</strong> made by Dr Mary E. K<strong>in</strong>g, who spokeon peace build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>as</strong> a bridge between <strong>conflict</strong> resolution and peace, to the report<strong>of</strong> Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel, which had been rele<strong>as</strong>ed two weeks priorto the conference, on 1 December 2004, which states that <strong>environmental</strong> <strong>degradation</strong>results <strong>in</strong> the kill<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> millions every year and threatens human security.Follow<strong>in</strong>g the end <strong>of</strong> the conference, Dr Saeed, Dr K<strong>in</strong>g, and Abduljabar Abdalla,Vice Chancellor <strong>of</strong> the University <strong>of</strong> El-F<strong>as</strong>hir, held a press conference at the MeridienHotel <strong>in</strong> Kharoum. The conference w<strong>as</strong> attended by approximately twentyjournalists represent<strong>in</strong>g daily newspapers, radio, and television. The Blue Nile TVChannel covered the news conference, provid<strong>in</strong>g a comprehensive report <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>terviews with the organisers. The three speakers at the news conferencepresented the f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> the meet<strong>in</strong>g and responded to the questions from mediarepresentatives.Objectives <strong>of</strong> the Meet<strong>in</strong>gInternal actors and the <strong>in</strong>ternational community are exert<strong>in</strong>g substantial effortsto resolve the immediate issues <strong>of</strong> the deadly crisis <strong>in</strong> Darfur – a region the size<strong>of</strong> France with a population <strong>of</strong> more than five million. Such labours fall <strong>in</strong>to threecategories: humanitarian <strong>as</strong>sistance, improvement <strong>in</strong> the security situation to allowthe safe return <strong>of</strong> refugees, and attempts to reach a political settlement betweenthe rebel groups and the government <strong>of</strong> Sudan. These efforts may eventually resolvethe present crisis; yet they leave the door open for further acute <strong>conflict</strong>s.It is therefore essential to address the root <strong>cause</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the problem – competitionover depleted natural resources, desertification, water scarcity, and <strong>environmental</strong>depletion. Hence the conference on Environmental Degradation and the Conflict <strong>in</strong>Darfur w<strong>as</strong> expected to achieve the follow<strong>in</strong>g objectives:• To provide a platform for the <strong>in</strong>terrogation <strong>of</strong> the major issues related to <strong>environmental</strong><strong>degradation</strong> and land use <strong>in</strong> Darfur, thus allow<strong>in</strong>g academics and13
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