Historical events Environmental impact of war

defoliant spray run, part of operation ranch hand, during vietnam war uc-123b provider aircraft.

the vietnam war had significant environmental implications use of chemical agents destroy military significant vegetation. enemies found advantage in remaining invisible blending civilian population or taking cover in dense vegetation , opposing armies targeted natural ecosystems. military used “more 20 million gallons of herbicides, sprayed defoliate forests, clear growth along borders of military sites , eliminate enemy crops.” chemical agents gave advantage in wartime efforts. however, vegetation unable regenerate , left behind bare mudflats years after spraying. not vegetation affected, wildlife: “a mid-1980s study vietnamese ecologists documented 24 species of birds , 5 species of mammals present in sprayed forests , converted areas, compared 145-170 bird species , 30-55 kinds of mammals in intact forest.” uncertain long-term effects of these herbicides being discovered looking @ modified species distribution patterns through habitat degradation , loss in wetland systems, absorbed runoff mainland. rwandan genocide led killing of 800,000 tutsis , moderate hutus. war created massive migration of 2 million hutus fleeing rwanda on course of few weeks refugee camps in tanzania , modern day democratic republic of congo. large displacement of people in refugee camps put pressure on surrounding ecosystem. forests cleared in order provide wood building shelters , creating cooking fires: “these people suffered harsh conditions , constituted important threat impact natural resources.” consequences conflict included degradation of national parks , reserves. population crash in rwanda shifted personnel , capital other parts of country, making hard protect wildlife. loss of conservationist efforts has made harder educate people of rwanda , explain importance of conservation future. in order build solid foundation conservation programs, according ecologists, social , political problems need solved first.

gulf war

during 1991 gulf war, kuwaiti oil fires result of scorched earth policy of iraqi military forces retreating kuwait in 1991 after conquering country being driven out coalition military forces. gulf war oil spill, regarded worst oil spill in history, caused when iraqi forces opened valves @ sea island oil terminal , dumped oil several tankers persian gulf.

some american military personnel complained of gulf war syndrome, typified symptoms including immune system disorders , birth defects in children. whether due time spent in active service during war or other reasons remains controversial.