Environmental Impact of Sudden Population Displacements - Expert Consultation on Priority Policy Issues and Humanitarian Aid (European Commission Humanitarian Office, 1995, 28 p.): 4. CASE STUDIES (SUMMARIES): 4.2. Impact of Humanitarian Crises on Ecosystems (U. Bloesch, Swiss Disaster Relief-Bern)

Environmental Impact of Sudden Population Displacements - Expert Consultation on Priority Policy Issues and Humanitarian Aid (European Commission Humanitarian Office, 1995, 28 p.)

(introduction...)

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2. OPENING STATEMENTS

2.1. Statement by Mr. E. Thielmann (ECHO III-Brussels)

2.2. Statement by Dr D. Guha-Sapir (Université Catholique de Louvain - Brussels)

3. OVERVIEW OF POLICY ISSUES

(introduction...)

3.1. Environment and Sudden Population Displacement: Policy Issues for Humanitarian Action and Development Programmes (D. Guha-Sapir, Université Catholique de Louvain and M. Salih, Institute of Social Studies-The Hague)

3.2. What Makes Emergencies Different? Interrelations of Development, Environment and Disasters (T. Cannon, University of Greenwich-London)

3.3. Environmental Issues: UNHCR’s Experience and Response (R. Thiadens and H. Mori, UNHCR-Geneva)

3.4. Environmental Change in Refugee Affected Areas: Research Needs and Future Directions (R. Black, University of Sussex-Brighton)

4. CASE STUDIES (SUMMARIES)

4.1. Cooking Energy for Refugees: The Cases of Zaire and Kenya (A. Klingshirn and T. Hoerz, GTZ-Eschborn)

4.2. Impact of Humanitarian Crises on Ecosystems (U. Bloesch, Swiss Disaster Relief-Bern)

4.3. Environmental Health and Environmental Impact: Policy and Practice in Emergency Water Supply (P. Sherlock, Oxfam-Oxford)

4.4. Environmental Impact of Refugees in Africa: Some Suggestions for Future Actions (Oweyegha-Afunaduula, University of Makerere-Kampala)

4.5. When Refugees Stream: Environmental and Political Implications of Population Displacement (Shin-wha Lee, Harvard University-Cambridge)

5. RECURRENT THEMES AND CONCERNS

6. AN APPEAL FOR URGENT POLICY ATTENTION

6.1. Principle

6.2. Time framework and policy parameters

i. Preparedness Phase

ii. Emergency Phase

iii. Relief Phase (care and maintenance)

6.3. Urgent policy concerns

i. Energy

ii. Shelter

iii. Agriculture

iv. Site and size of settlements

v. Indigenous knowledge

vi. Research and impact assessment

6.4 Institutions, resources and technical interventions

i. Institutional issues

ii. Resource competition concerns

iii. Technical issues

ANNEXES

1. Selected Bibliography

2. List of Participants

3. Support Staff

4. Programme and Presentations

4.2. Impact of Humanitarian Crises on Ecosystems (U. Bloesch, Swiss Disaster Relief-Bern)

Case studies from Rwanda, Tanzania and Zaire were presented. The ecosystems in Rwanda and Tanzania have been affected and modified by human activities over centuries. Ecosystems accustomed to intense human activity (such as in the Rwandan and Tanzanian setting) appear to react better to the consequences of population/livestock concentrations, than ecosystems that have been less affected by human activity (e.g. Zaire). The carrying and recovery capacities of various ecosystems is also affected by the duration of population/livestock concentrations. Recovery of affected ecosystems in general, however, will depend on the intactness of humus and the presence of seeds and seedlings in the ground once the period of stress is over.

Intervening factors which determine the carrying and recovery capacity of an affected ecosystem include the fragility of the ecosystem; local topography; local availability of energy sources; availability of pastures; climatic conditions (heavy rainfall that may wash away topsoil); energy needs of refugees; number and type of livestock; number of refugees; length of stay; and rapidity in which an environmental operation is started.

The aim of an environmental operation initiated following population displacements, therefore, should be to safeguard the physical and socio-economic environment, and focus on the local community to ensure long term sustainability.

The main recommendations that can be drawn from the case-studies include:

· where humanitarian crises can be expected, maps indicating areas with fragile ecosystems should be prepared;
· environmental considerations should be included in the very beginning of a crises. It is recommendable to include an environmental expert in the initial assessment team;
· the local population should be involved in planning the use of land from the very beginning. Efforts should be made to ask people how they want to use the land.