Green Violence: Militarization of Natural Resources

Natural resources are crucial in supporting human life and the survival of various species on Earth. The significant impact of natural resources on human development has given rise to critical intersections of resource commodification, security concerns, and the justification of nature-related violence, commonly referred to as militarization of nature with the potential to turn into green wars. These conflicts span diverse environments, including forests, rivers, seas, and mountains, and often involve border surveillance and military interventions. The convergence of security logic and military actions not only secures specific geographic areas for capital accumulation but also asserts sovereignty and strategic positioning. Advocates of this confluence, specifically in the field of nature conservation, argue that it is essential for protecting nature and curbing biodiversity loss. However, this alignment also creates deplorable and violent landscapes that often lead to confrontations between park managers and local communities. At the heart of these conflicts is the characterization of individuals such as poachers, illegal miners, or loggers as threats to state and private sector interests hence deemed killable. This characterization has resulted in severe responses, including the use of lethal measures, placing individuals and local communities within protected areas at risk. Natural resources themselves have become battlegrounds in armed conflicts, exemplified by instances such as the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War to decimate forests as a military strategy to defeat the enemy. Another example is the use of herbicides in Colombia sprayed on fields and forests to combat narcotics. In both cases, the militarization of natural resources and green wars have severed the connections between Indigenous communities and their natural landscapes. The detrimental effects of green violence on both human populations and the environment have sparked widespread concern. In response, alternative models to the militarization of natural resources are being explored, particularly in societies with a history of colonization. Proposals for demilitarization and adopting convivial, care-based, and non-capitalist approaches to natural resource management are gaining traction. Non-violent strategies are seen as pathways to peace, well-being, justice, restoration, and ethical engagement with those who have suffered the most from the militarization of natural resources and nature protection. These alternative approaches aim to foster a harmonious coexistence between humanity and the environment in the context of the ongoing poly-crises worldwide.