Ecosystems assessment makes sense Full situational awareness in CIMIC In military history, the environment has always been one of the most important factors in military operations. Efficient use of the terrain and battleground was a sine qua non in order to defeat the enemy. For all belligerents, it was of vital importance to deny the opposing force the chance to make beneficial use of the environment at hand. Often in cases of retreat, local resources were destroyed or polluted to prevent the enemy from using them. These environmental oriented techniques of war have a huge negative impact on the local population. Although key civil infrastructure, private possessions, and foremost civilians, are protected by a variety of international laws and conventions, these laws have not always been enforced by all sides of the conflict, especially in cases of civil war or situations where one of the actors is making use of hybrid warfare. In order to support the achievement of stabilization and sustainable peace, this handbook helps to assess ecosystems and manage resources, thus contributing to the full situational awareness in CIMIC. Civil-Military Co-operation Centre Of Excellence (CCOE) PO Box 5013 - 7500 GA Enschede - The Netherlands
[email protected] - www.cimic-coe.or Society stabilization by winning the environment Ecosystems assessment makes sense... Full situational awareness in CIMIC Commander N. Gallagher, Major (ret.) P. Wit First Edition 2012 ISBN/EAN: 978-90-813165-2-1 Preface NATO Civil-Military Cooperation is a complex process linking military and civil contributions using a comprehensive and cohesive approach to support societies in re-stabilizing, as well as the resolution of complex emergencies to which the Alliance is committed in general.