ENVIRONMENT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION The case of Cyprus By Nicolas Jarraud – UNDP-ACT

1. ENVIRONMENT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTIONThe case of CyprusBy Nicolas Jarraud – UNDP-ACT

2. Summary • Environment in peace-building • Environment as a source of conflict • Environment as a “victim” of conflict • Preservation of habitats in demilitarised areas • The Cyprus context • Island-wide issues in Cyprus • Obstacles to environmental peace-building • Attitudes towards environmental cooperation • Bi-communal environmental projects in Cyprus • Environment and the Peace Process

3. Environment in Peace-Building • HDR: “All too often, religious, cultural, and ethnic identity are treated as a source of division and difference from others. In the face of all these differences, Climate Change provides a potent reminder of the one thing we share in common. It is called planet Earth. All nations and all people share the same atmosphere. And we only have one” • UNEP’s Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch has secured trans-boundary cooperation on pressing environmental issues between Israelis and Palestinians. • WHO/DFID “peace through health” project in Bosnia-Herzegovina • Korean Peace Bioreserves System

4. Environment as a source of conflict • Competition for natural resources (e.g. water) – HDR: environmental problems such as Climate Change increase the gap between rich and poor, may cause large population movements, and in the ensuing resentment and scramble for resources, conflict can follow. • Ironically, countries with the most abundant natural resources are often wrecked by conflict (e.g. DRC) • Competition for resources (Nile waters, mineral resources) • Resources used to fund conflict (diamonds, hardwood timber)

5. Environment as a victim of conflict • Palestine: “Long-term environmental degradation has occurred over the decades spanning several conflicts. In an already densely populated area, there are additional problems of scarcity of water resources and land, rapid population growth, long-lasting refugee situation, climate change, desertification and land degradation.” • Kosovo (pollution from air strikes e.g. on oil refinery) • Sudan: Scorched-earth campaigns in Darfur • Afghanistan – “The most serious issue in Afghanistan is the long-term environmental degradation caused, in part, by a complete collapse of local and national forms of governance.”

6. Preservation of habitats in demilitarised areas • Korean DMZ – Exists for last 45 years - Uninhabited • Korean Peace Bio-reserves System • Cyprus Buffer Zone - Exists for last 34 years • Wildlife haven - 3% of Cyprus’ land area • Home to a range of endemic and/or endangered species: • Tulipa cypria • Ophrys kotschyi • Long-legged buzzard • Cyprus mouflon • BUT: disease corridor, pests, invasives and forest fires

7. The Cyprus context • Independence in 1960 • Intercommunal violence in 1963/64 • Conflict and partition in 1974 • 1999-2005 – UNDP/UNOPS BDP • 2004 – rejection of “Annan” peace plan and EU accession • 2005-2011 –UNDP-ACT promoting reconciliation ($41 m) • 2008 – resumption of peace talks – technical committees

8. Island-wide issues in Cyprus • Waste management (joint WWTP since 1978) • Pandemics and public health (AI, FMD, Echinococcus, Malaria) • Pollution (water and air) • Pest control • Forest fires in the buffer zone • Water resources and climate change • Compliance/approximation of EU standards • Biodiversity loss • Coastal zone management

9. Obstacles to environment peace-building • Culture of blame: • During public health crises (AI, FMD) • Blaming the other community for deforestation whilst undertaking the same practices. • Blaming the 1974 conflict on environmental degradation: • No environment ministry in GCC • Destruction of habitats in order to “compensate refugees” • Massive development in TCC following Annan Plan rejection • Recognition: • Participation of officials in personal capacity • Civil servants won’t cross buffer zone or share information • Academic institutions don’t recognise each-other • Surreal vocabulary required in order to avoid causing offence • Fragmentation of environmental civil society

10. Public attitudes to environmental cooperation Source: RAI ConsultantsPublic Ltd – 998 respondents

11. UNDP-ACT 120 reconciliation projects – of which 23 environmental – $41 m USAID funding (2005-2011) • Networks: • Cyprus Environmental Stakeholder Forum (CESF) • MADAG – Dairy Farming • COAG – Organic Farming • EDF – Pandemic Preparedness • NSF – Integrated Coastal Zone Management • Academic and technical cooperation: • Reforestation project • Mycorrhizae for vegetable farming • Biodiversity research in the buffer zone and PMRs • Waterbird monitoring • Public awareness of common environmental concerns: • Thematic conferences and workshops • Environment Café events • Global Compact Awareness • Mobile information Centre

12. Impact on the Peace Process • Peace process re-started in 2008 in the form of: • Technical Committees (Environment, Crisis, Health etc.) • Working Groups (Property, Territory, Governance etc.) • Direct Talks between Leaders (October onwards) • Environment technical committee: • Majority of members are ACT project partners • Produced over 60% of all agreements in 2008 • Only committee to involve civil society representatives • Some agreements to be funded by ACT (US$ 500,000)

13. Thank you!