Protecting Nature while preventing harm.

 

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) has the unenviable distinction of being the most heavily bombed country on earth. From 1964-1973, the U.S. dropped over 2 million tons of explosive ordnance on Lao PDR in one of the largest aerial bombardments in history. The widespread damage caused by the explosions killed and injured tens of thousands of people, destroyed entire villages, riddled the earth with bomb craters, and scorched countless acres of agricultural land and unique biodiverse ecosystems endemic to Lao PDR. As a case study about the environmental impacts of the use of explosive weapons in armed conflict, Lao PDR presents a strong cautionary tale. The massive harm from explosive weapons at the time of their use and the scale of the still-present threat of UXO contamination are obvious arguments for prevention of environmental harm before the conduct of military intervention. It is also important in as the consideration of environmental harm caused during, and after, military operations are carried out. The millions of UXO left to fester in the land, streams, riverbeds, paddy fields, jungles, and mountain tops of Lao PDR leach toxic chemicals into the soil and ground water slowly over time, as well as continuing to kill and injure people and wildlife. The means of finding and removing UXO can also cause additional environmental harm as a result of the methods required to safely locate and destroy UXO, from small submunitions up to large aircraft bombs. International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) now contain an Environmental Management standard (7.13). However, IMAS standards must also be adapted to the local context to consider broader environmental issues, the methods of mine and UXO removal and destruction, and the daily running of mine action operations. Lao PDR, often described as a country littered with UXO is also at risk from litter, primarily single-use plastics. Solid waste management impacts are particularly acute in Lao PDR due to poverty, low levels of socio-economic development, lack of infrastructure, public policy, and public awareness. Burning garbage is a ubiquitous and serious threat to human health and air quality. In Lao PDR, the twin environmental threats of UXO and non-biodegradable waste, converge. Many accidents have been recorded when villagers burn waste and detonate hidden UXO in the process, causing injury or death.

In 2020 NPA and Zero Waste Laos conducted an environmental impact assessment of NPA Lao PDR’s operations. The findings revealed that over a third of NPA staff members reporting burning garbage as a primary means of waste disposal; a clear lack of understanding of how to separate waste at source; a lack of understanding of, or options for, recycling collection; or a general sense of futility, as despite separating waste at source, all waste was then dumped together in illegal rubbish dumps nearby. While organic waste scraps were reported (and witnessed) to be fed to animals and pets, there was little reported knowledge, or evidence, of composting being carried out to reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfill sites unnecessarily. These findings, while negative, are perhaps unsurprising. The majority of villages where NPA is operating (and recruiting its staff members, as a vital source of employment) are remote, and some of the poorest, most marginalised in the country, often as a direct result of UXO contamination.

As a result, NPA will aim to minimise waste generation, including requiring the use of reusable materials such as canvas bags, cutlery, cooking equipment, and food, water, and rubbish storage containers. We will also require NPA operational management and team leaders to locate options for recycling, including through intermediary and local ‘middle-man’ collectors, in the absence of commercial or state-run facilities. NPA will provide training for staff members on composting, waste separation, and the use of organic waste for pet and livestock consumption. Most importantly, we will put in place measures to prohibit the burning of garbage, hazardous materials, and illegal dumping. This also provides impetus to update the National UXO Standards on Environmental Management. The National UXO Standards are applicable not only for NGO humanitarian mine action operators, but also commercial companies, and the Lao Army. The goal of humanitarian mine action is the return of safe land for productive use for individuals and communities. This means land free from mine and UXO contamination, and any additional contamination caused by mine and UXO survey teams. While mine action is increasingly embracing a ‘do-no-harm’ approach to environmental management, NPA Lao PDR believes we must go further. We must strive to actively improve the environment in areas where we work, and in addition to the removal of mines and UXO, leave the land we hand back to communities in truly better condition than we found it.