Environmental Security: New Challenges and Role of Military by PK Gautam

Introduction

Environmental Security: New Challenges and Role of Military authored by P.K. Gautam encompassing a project fellowship at the IDSA from 2005 to 2008 was released by Lt. Gen. (Retd.) V.R. Raghavan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, member executive council of the IDSA who also chaired the session. Officers from the Army HQ representing the Quarter Master General Branch and Territorial Army attended the function besides scholar from other think tanks, academics and IDSA members. Officers of 132 Ecological Task Force (ETF) deployed in Delhi also attended.

About the Book

Theoretical knowledge, long serving field experience in remote and ecologically fragile areas, a continuous study of environmental literature, effort to come to an understanding of environmental security by way of participation in various debates, and field work specific to study ecology, have helped shape this book. The book gives an overview of the Ecological Task Forces and institutions of the army. The Thar desert, Kumaon hills, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and the Northeast have been used as case studies. The aim of this work has been to study and assess the activities being undertaken by the military in ecological conservation. In doing so, fresh insights and perspectives are formed on issues not only of environment but also how people relate their lives to nature in a rapidly urbanizing and industrialising India. In the light of the finding of this research, policy measures on some environmental issues have been suggested, which include a new role for the military and military-to-military cooperation.

Proceedings

After a brief introduction by Director General IDSA about the author and the book, the Chairman began the session by complimenting IDSA in addressing new and emerging non-traditional security issues. Such work also placed on record the admirable work being done by the army. The chair recalled how when he was a commanding general in the 1980s in Ladakh, precipitation from snow to rain had caused havoc with local buildings, monasteries and agricultural practices. Was this change due to afforestation by the military is still an unresolved question. The present challenge in the region is water stress due to high demand for scarce potable water for the tourism industry.

Overview by Author

The author briefly explained the methods and topic of all the nine chapters. It was a cycle of experience during military service in fragile zones followed by theoretical insights with half a dozen field trips. Bursts of inspiration or spurts of vision cannot deliver the type of ecological restoration that is being undertaken by the unique ecological task forces (ETF) of the Territorial Army. In spite of the ETF and military green cantonments, environmental degradation still continues unabated. The latest report of the Indian Space Research Organisation identifies spreading desertification as a national problem. Other problems include: degradation of Himalayas, soil degradation, loss of biodiversity and wetlands, coastal and marine pollution, desertification, wasteland perception and whether to treat it as a common property resource or for farming at cost of graziers and the landless, urbanisation as more troops are recruited from growing urban centres and need to retain traditional ecological knowledge, waste stream of solid, liquid and gases and scars left due to extraction industry. A very negative picture emerges if an environmental impact assessment of India is visualised over the next 20 years. In environmental degradation we are our own enemies.

The military however is best suited at present in afforestation, and “if infantry is the queen of battle in a shooting war, the tree is the queen of battle against environmental degradation”. Future roles of ETF expanded with retiring ex-servicemen were suggested to address new tasks. The need for training on ecology, as emphasised by the Forest Commission, was highlighted including in road building in the fragile Himalayas. Policy for removing intrusive and harmful species like Congress Grass, water hyacinth, and velayti kikar and so on was emphasised.

As regards role of military, author saw more involvement in disaster relief, the need to balance live training with simulation in an era of urbanisation and scientific land management of military land.

With respect to military to military cooperation, the author highlighted issues such as study of permafrost, glaciers and water flows with China. Watershed protection of Indus basin with Pakistan to include water logging, salinisation and overcoming exaggerated fears of dams as weapons of war in spite of ENMOD treaty. With Bangladesh, the need of better understanding of forests with floods and drainage congestion, common inland water transport corridors, sea level rise and delta subsidence were identified. With Nepal an ETF for its army with former Maoists was suggested for watershed protection. Pollution response and dealing with abandoned derelict bottoms were of common concern with maritime neighbours.

In conclusion, the author stressed from the last chapter in which three classic questions of security are to be answered. Security for whom, security for what and who provides security. The book provides all answers and also:

• Suggests to think beyond GDP
• Urges that policy makers, who need evidence based research, to take into account the well established ETF model and need to grasp this resource
• Justifies the need to preserve traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of not only locals, but military personnel who may be losing it in a rapidly industrialising and urbanising India.

Areas requiring more research as given in conclusion were emphasized by the author like continuation of inner line from ecological perspective, greater understanding of pastorals, revisiting road building in Himalayas with ecological angle and being sensitive to local culture and traditions.

Panelists

Three discussants were on the panel. Brig. Hemant Kumar Singh, DDG (Territorial Army) explained the future challenge of afforestation with policy to green India by 33 per cent. He argued that only ETF can ensure survival of trees in difficult terrain and this must be factored by policy planners. He recalled that the Chinese military has taken on this complex job very systematically and much can be learnt from them.

Brig. (Retd.) Rahul Bhonsle, SM mentioned that the book read well and gave a unique perspective on the issues. In a way it is like a travelogue and reader friendly as it takes into account various theoretical literature which is India specific rather than based on work of western authors which is mostly focused on their environment and context. He cautioned that the primary task of military must be war-fighting and environmental protection should not be the primary job of the army. He felt that there is a need for rationalisation of the military’s role between traditional and non-traditional security by building capacity in civil organisations.

Wg. Cdr. Manoj Kumar, VSM, Research Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies, argued that the book is backed up by field work. He highlighted that a sense of a lack of history prevails and we must come to grips with the past for understanding the future. An “offensive” to tackle the complex issues of environmental degradation which is a national problem is needed.

Overall the book was well received. The book will fill an important niche in this field of environmental security. Besides the defence services the book will be of use to organs of the government dealing with ecological matters, universities, institutes researching on environmental security, concerned citizens and scholars.

How to Procure the Book

The book has been published by Shipra Publications www.shiprapublications.com, Head Office : LG-18-19, Pankaj Central Market, Patparganj, I.P. Extension, Delhi-110092 ( e mail , tele 91-11- - 22235152, 22236152, 9810522367) and priced at Indian Rs 495( US $ 20).