UN chief calls for ending illegal exploitation of natural resources

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Sunday called on the international community to combat environmental crime and end the illegal exploitation of natural resources, both in peacetime and during war.

Ban made the appeal in a message on the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.

To achieve the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, "we must recognize that we have a duty of care towards the environment in peacetime and during war," Ban said in the message.

The UN chief noted that poor governance of the environment and natural resources can contribute to the outbreak of conflict. "Conversely, there are many examples of natural resources serving as catalysts for peaceful cooperation, confidence-building and poverty reduction," he said, adding that how governments manage the natural resources in after-war peacebuilding is also fundamental.

"In the aftermath of violent conflict, natural resources, such as land, timber, minerals, oil and gas, are often the primary assets that governments need to support livelihoods and economic recovery," he said.

The UN is working to establish guidelines that can better support environmental preservation, particularly in protected areas and environmentally sensitive sites, he added.

"On this International Day, I urge governments, businesses and citizens around the world to prioritize environmental care and the sustainable management of natural resources for preventing conflict, building peace and promoting lasting prosperity," he said.

The environment has often remained the unpublicised victim of war. To raise awareness on this issue, the UN General Assembly in 2001 declared November 6 of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. Endite