Employing the military and the
alternative military service for Earth security

Earth security is becoming a watchword for the 21st century. This program targets soldiers scheduled for demobilization and/or discharge; those involved with disaster relief; as well as inductees for alternative military service, for training in various skills relating to ecological restoration that will prepared them for sustainable livelihoods in civilian life.

In the post-Cold War era, a number of studies and initiatives explored the feasibility of mobilizing armed forces, or parts of them, for restorative environmental purposes. Some policy makers and defense strategists began redefining the concept of “security” to include environmental, social, and economic factors previously ignored in defense considerations. Their argument was that future conflicts could be avoided by developing a form of culture or civilization that can be economically healthy while also socially equitable and ecologically sustainable. Some two dozen countries have to date experimented with or implemented such programs.

Three areas where training programs could be applied to begin this process are: a) soldiers scheduled for demobilization or discharge; b) disaster relief (mitigating floods, fires, droughts, famine, etc.), in cooperation with disaster relief agencies and specialists, an area where military involvement has been most common; and c) alternative military service. The ERC proposes to collaborate with implementing partner organizations, including the United Nations, to recruit, train, and work with qualified civilian and/or military personnel who serve as trainers and crew supervision leaders. Soldiers and/or inductees for alternative military service will be trained in and participate in an array of earth restoration activities that equip them with the skills and experience for work opportunities upon discharge.

Training workshops combined with on-the-job training lasting from several months to two years for civilian service are envisaged. Activities include, apart from disaster relief: restoration of degraded ecosystems, urban restoration and clean-up, reforestation, mining and industrial site reclamation, renewable energy development, restoration of pipeline corridors, energy conservation projects, waste disposal and recycling, range recovery and management, enhancement of parks and other nature reserves, water and air quality monitoring, agro forestry development, preservation of cultural and historic sites, freshwater fisheries conservation and development, marine and coastal resources conservation and development, and the like. The activities are likely to generate subsequent employment opportunities in areas where no need may have previously existed. In order to effectively render such a training program operational in developing and least developed countries, the lead agency may require the backing and proactive support of a United Nations resident representative, the highest-ranking UN diplomat in countries where the UNDP is present.