Managing Natural Resources in Post-Conflict Societies

In partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Specialist Group on Armed Conflict and the Environment of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, and the University of Tokyo, ELI organized an international meeting on “Managing Natural Resources in Post-Conflict Societies: Lessons in Making the Transition to Peace.” Approximately 35 people participated in the meeting, which was held in Geneva from September 17-18, 2007. The meeting identified a range of post-conflict countries in which natural resources have played an important role in peacebuilding and recovery. The participants shared observations regarding lessons learned and considered a range of follow-up actions to improve post-conflict management of natural resources, particularly as it relates to peacebuilding.

A copy of the meeting report may be downloaded here.

This meeting was part of a broader initiative among the institutions involved to take stock of experiences regarding how natural resource management can facilitate the transition to peace in post-conflict societies. ELI Senior Attorney Carl Bruch serves as co-chair of the Specialist Group on Armed Conflict and the Environment.