UN: Natural Resource Management Vital to Peace

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Natural resources, such as land, forests and minerals, can help create jobs, rebuild economic livelihoods and reintegrate former combatants in war-torn countries - but only if they are managed properly, says a new United Nations report.

In many conflict-affected societies, natural resources are used to fuel and finance armed groups, yet they can also be used to bring about sustainable peace, according to a new UN report The Role of Natural Resources in Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration - Addressing Risks and Seizing Opportunities, which was launched in New York today.

“Conflict continues to devastate families and communities around the world - and as these countries emerge from war, they often face high risks of conflict relapse. Natural resources, if managed appropriately, can provide new opportunities for sustainable employment and serve as powerful vehicle for rebuilding societies.” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director. “Ensuring that reintegration and recovery programmes use natural resources as a tool to promote peace and cooperation will be key for increasing communities’ resilience and avoiding risks for further conflict.”

However, the report also warns that an abundance of natural resources is often linked to conflict, and can exacerbate or even fuel violence, particularly when used to finance armed groups.

The report says that despite the opportunities they present, plans for the fair management and distribution of natural resources are usually excluded from peace negotiations and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes. For example, the report finds that in northern Uganda, where land is central to one’s economic security, lack of land access was one of the main barriers to reintegration. Incorporating natural resources into plans for reintegration and recovery can also help mitigate potential conflicts, such as disputes over land or water, the report suggests.

“When assisting former fighters and their communities to start new lives after a conflict, it is often critical to help them turn existing natural resources into economic opportunities,” said Jordan Ryan, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. “However, natural resources need to be managed properly as part of a well thought-out peace process. For example, access to land needs to be taken into consideration, especially for vulnerable groups, such as women, who play a particularly important role in reintegration with regards to natural resources, since they are primarily responsible for providing food, water and other basic resources for households.”

The report encourages the United Nations Member States and the international community to focus on reducing the risks posed by natural resources for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former fighters, while offering increased opportunities for sustainable livelihoods for communities as a whole.

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