Wetlands and warfare - implications for hydrologic and biogeochemical ecosystem functions

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Military Science

Background:

• Wetlands provide critical hydrologic and biogeochemical functions, such as flood control and water purification.
• Warfare ecology offers a framework to assess ecosystem changes across war's phases: preparation, active conflict, and rebuilding.
• Existing research on warfare's impact on wetlands primarily addresses wildlife habitat, neglecting hydrologic and biogeochemical functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current knowledge on how warfare influences wetland hydrologic and biogeochemical functions.
• To examine these impacts across the distinct phases of warfare.
• To highlight the importance of wetlands for military installation resilience and environmental management.

Main Methods:

• Literature synthesis and conceptual framework application.
• Analysis of warfare's effects on wetland functions during preparation, active conflict, and rebuilding phases.
• Review of existing studies on wetland responses to military activities and environmental alterations.

Main Results:

• Wetland preparation for conflict involves drainage, dredging, or filling for infrastructure, alongside munitions production and habitat alteration for training.
• Active conflict can lead to altered wetland hydrology (draining or flooding) and biogeochemical changes from introduced contaminants.
• The rebuilding phase presents opportunities for wetland creation and restoration to enhance strategic functions.

Conclusions:

• Warfare significantly impacts wetland hydrologic and biogeochemical functions throughout its lifecycle.
• Wetlands can enhance military installation resilience through improved flood control and water quality.
• Further research quantifying these functions within the warfare ecology context is recommended for effective natural resource management.