The Hottest Spots: Conservation in War Zones

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http://www.conservation.org/FMG/Articles/Pages/warfare_in_the_hotspots.aspx

The Hottest Spots: Conservation in War Zones

Lisa Bowen

More than 80 percent of the world’s major armed conflicts during the last half century have taken place in some of http://www.conservation.org/hotspots">the most biologically diverse and threatened places on Earth, according to a study published by the scientific journal Conservation Biology.

The new paper entitled “Warfare in Biodiversity Hotspots” calls for conservation activities to remain strong during conflicts to ensure that local people will have the natural resources they need to survive and rebuild http://www.conservation.org/communities">healthy communities post war.

The hotspots are home to a majority of the world’s poorest people who rely on natural resources for their daily survival. Forests and other healthy ecosystems help cleanse freshwater and provide sources of food, medicines and materials for building homes. They are often intertwined with centuries-old traditional lifestyles and unique indigenous cultures.

Committing to Conservation

“We can’t abandon these places. Loss of biodiversity and healthy functioning ecosystems makes people more vulnerable,” says Russell A. Mittermeier, president of Conservation International (CI) and one of the authors of the report. “Working alongside partners in these regions, conservation groups can help prevent some of the long-term, life-altering impacts of war on people, wildlife and natural landscapes.”

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