Social24

24. International and interstate conflicts on the base of environmental stress

Lead Papers

Dr. Grigori Abramia, Dr. Alexander S. Bogolyubov, Valery Drouziaka, Ramkumar Bendapudi and Professor Gerard D’Souza, Dr. Janet M. Eaton, Kun H. JOHN and Yeo C. Youn and and Jae W. Park,Tatiana Mamatova

Opening Remark by Leader

Sustainable development is defined as one that meets:

(1) the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs and

(2) the needs of a specific region without curtailing the ability of other regions to meet their own needs (Niu et al., 1993).

The second part of the definition brings into focus the issue of interstate conflict.
Conflicts are of different types. These conflicts can be environmental (e.g., SO2 emissions), economic (e.g., tariffs), political (e.g., boundaries), or social (e.g., Downstream consequences of water diversion projects, human rights and war). Sometimes conflicts can be between economic interests and environmental interests (e.g., preservation versus development decisions regarding a natural resource like land).

Conflicts arise when activities of a state create negative externalities which affect neighboring states. For example, occurrence of acid rain in country A due to SO2 emissions in country B. Activities like destruction of rainforests and emission of green house gases have global implications arising from the resulting global warming. In such cases, conflicts arise regarding the extent of accountability and contribution to the problem by individual countries. This discussion would help in providing insights into such conflicts and identifying possible solutions.

Thanking you,

Ramkumar Bendapudi
Doctoral Student and Graduate Research Assistant
Division of Resource Management
PO BOX 6108, West Virginia University
Morgantown,WV 26506, U.S.A
and
Dr. Gerard D'Souza
Professor
Division of Resource Management
PO BOX 6108, West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 26506, U.S.A

Assessment of Results of Discussion Roundtable and Conclusion

The papers under this group cover diverse topics but the common goal is of human welfare. Conflicts in the world are many and varied. Some examples are economic and ecological conflicts, political conflicts, cultural conflicts, etc.

The results of John, Youn and Park show that benefits exist for preservation of ecological resources. Such results imply the need for a 'balance' between economic interests and ecological interests, which is the essence of sustainable development. The adverse consequences of political conflicts on humanity do not further the cause of human development in any way. Eaton brings into focus the violation of human rights and atrocities against women during such conflicts.

Awareness of environmental problems and importance of a stable ecological systems, appreciation and tolerance towards different cultures would help in creating a congenial environment for understanding the concept of sustainable development. Dr. Bogolyubov stresses on the importance of inculcating a 'naturalistic approach' in the educational system for creating such awareness about ecosystem in the students. Drouziaka draws attention to the preservation of bio-diversity and cultural identity. Dr. Abramia elucidates the importance of inclusion of sustainability elements in various legislations.

Ramkumar and D'Souza discuss another facet of sustainability that pertains to application of sustainability. The authors conclude that even though various conservation policies could be consistent with sustainable development in the short run, they can be contradictory in the long run.

The papers contributed under this discussion group throw light on various dimensions of sustainable development. Sustainable Development is a concept that is difficult but the basic objective is - well being of mankind, both present and future.

Thanking you,

Ramkumar Bendapudi
Doctoral Student and Graduate Research Assistant
Division of Resource Management
PO BOX 6108, West Virginia University
Morgantown,WV 26506, U.S.A
and
Dr. Gerard D'Souza
Professor
Division of Resource Management
PO BOX 6108, West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 26506, U.S.

JOHN, Youn and Park explained that the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South-North Korea has served as a sanctuary to diverse biological resources since the Korean War ceased in 1953. During winter season, flocks of cranes (Grus spp.) converge in the rice field along the DMZ. All other refuges for cranes that winter in South Korea were destroyed, due mainly to wilful industrial expansion in the past few decades. The presence of cranes in this region is attributed to the rasidual rice grains left behind by harvesters. This winter habitat is, however, very fragile, for a number of reasons. First, the local farmers regard the cranes as a potential threat in their livelihood rather than as an ecological member sharing the same ecosystem resources. Second, exercising property rights, the landholders have actively advocated an industrial development program. Third, it is difficult to legally impose the notion of wildlife preservation even if there is a perception among the general public that the crane is worth preserving. This study sought to formulate a policy measure to guide the local egalitarian farm economy to ecological economy in which farmers and cranes are the harmonized co-users of the ecosystem resources. Valuation based approach is employed in our study to show that biodiversity is not in conflict with local economic well-being but, in fact, essential to it.

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