Natural Resources, a significant driver of a hidden conflict in Afghanistan
The natural resources of Afghanistan- its land, water, biodiversity and mineral deposits- play an important role in sustainable development and realization of self-reliance for the country. An estimated 70 to 80 percent of Afghans rely on these resources for their livelihood. A better and sustainable management of these resources are needed, to create jobs, eradicate poverty, remove hunger, and put the country on a sustainable development path. If poorly managed, these resources can be a significant driver of conflict and violence. However, it is very rare that the environmental factors are the sole reason for violent conflict.Though, the natural resource and environment have a complex role in conflict, but the following three ways can categorize most of its role: (1) it can contribute in outbreak of the conflict; (2) it can finance the conflict, once it is broken out; and (3) it can undermine the peace process, by those who could lose the revenues generated by natural resources. (UNEP, 2009)
In communities where people rely on natural resources as their main source of income, the tendency for competing over the available resources, can causes tensions. Inequal access to resources, excess of demand over supply, and failure in governance to resolve these tensions can contribute in outbreak of conflict. Upstream and downstream tensions and conflicts between farmers over the access to water resources in most of the developing countries, is one of the common examples of how natural resources can contribute in outbreak of conflict.
Disregarding the main reason of an ongoing conflict, natural resources can be used as a source of income to fuel conflict. In this case, control over the regions with “high-value” resources can become the strategic goal of the involved parties, which can then extend the geography and duration of conflict. In the past three decades, there are more than 17 civil wars that are fueled by natural resources. (UNEP, 2009) High-value extractives (mines) or timbers are good examples for natural resources’ contribution in funding the ammunition and other logistical expenses of war.
In a war/conflict zone, where the rule of law is weakened, illegal exploitation of “valuable” natural resources become a source of revenue for involved individuals or groups. To maintain their control and get maximum benefit out of the available resources, the involved parties may undermine the peace process and oppose to any agreements on peace.
In Afghanistan, we have already been experiencing, conflicts and tensions over natural resources, which at some cases turn into violence. Based on researches and surveys, land and water are the two major sources of violent conflict in Afghanistan, which follows by trade of timber, cultivation and trade of drug, and “high-value” extractives as contributors in funding the conflict and/or functioning as an incentive for poor governance. (UNEP, 2013) From the intra-farmers’ tensions over the water or land, to nomad and farmers conflict over the pastures, there are many conflicts recorded, where the natural resources were either the cause or contributor.
Climate Change, rapid population growth, and the current economic development path together with the poor management of natural resources are alarming challenges, that can potentially exacerbate conflict over the natural resources in number and intensity, in future. Increase in population can increase the demand for the available natural resources, resulting in further competition to access them. On the other hand, climate change can impact adversely the access to and availability of water resources and can results in a large depletion of other natural resources. Economic development in Afghanistan relying on natural resources can also contribute in depletion of natural resources, which will, by default, increases the level of competition over the available natural resources. In the absence or better management of natural resources for better distribution and sustainable exploitation, and the failure of the governance in resolving of tension, the competitions for accessing the natural resources can easily turn into more intense and numerous conflicts in country.
However, the same natural resources present a huge opportunity for the country to grow its economy and reduce its dependence on international financial supports. The country needs to use the current and future challenges as a good opportunity for peacebuilding and cooperation. Rapid and integrated management of natural resources, considering the conflict-sensitive approaches can largely contribute in peacebuilding.
As conclusion, from the outbreak of conflict, to continuance of violence and undermining the peace process, natural resources and environment keep its contribution in all phases of the conflict cycle. In the meantime, environment and natural resources can also be the victim to conflict, receiving direct or indirect damages. But also, they play an important role in peacebuilding. Therefore, natural resources should be considered as an important contributor in all phases of the conflict and peacebuilding.
References
Gaston, E. & Dang, L., 2015. Addressing Land Conflict in Afghanistan, Washington DC: United State Institute of Peace.
UNEP, 2009. From Conflict to Peacebuilding: The Role of Natural Resources and the Environment, Nairobi: UNEP.
UNEP, 2013. NRM and Peacebuilding in Afghanistan, Nairobi: UNEP.
