Wit, Piet de

After a short introduction of the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), the present presentation develops the application of the ecosystem approach by the military sector, in particular in relation to peace-support operations and reconstruction programmes. It describes a simple model of 4 steps. The first step deals with the physical system (“the ecosystem”), the second step with the use of the ecosystem and the third step with its management (institutions and regulations).

This report comprises a worldwide review of 38 ecological network initiatives that are currently being developed or implemented. It includes an inventory of a wide range of proposals, plans and ongoing programmes to establish ecological networks at scales varying from the regional to intercontinental, and summary findings on the main features of the initiatives.

Little attention is given to the state of nature and natural resources in situations of armed conflict. Because of the human disaster involved, three is often a reluctance to focus on the environmental consequences. Nevertheless, there is no reason to assume that nothing can de done to conserve natural resources and biodiversity.