The use of troops in peacekeeping missions under the auspices of the United Nations has proved to be an important tool in stabilization processes and relief for some nations. The most recent mission was MINUSTAH, of which Brazil has been in charge for 13 years (2004 – 2017) and has had the participation of approximately 36,000 military personnel in this period. This type of mission is characterized by being constituted by thousands of civilian, police and military personnel and requires a very large amount of logistical support. Most countries in which peacekeeping personnel operate have very little infrastructure. All these UN people produce liquid and solid waste which, if not treated and disposed properly, can cause an impact on the local environment. Military operations present unique challenges that are not typically associated with peacetime domestic routines or training activities. The operational requirements are of paramount importance, therefore, the integration of environmental aspects must be taken into account, such as operational planning, training and execution, since they are essential for the maintenance of health and well-being of the deployed troops and the local population. In addition, precursory environmental planning and continuous risk management are crucial factors for preventing irreparable damage to sites with natural, cultural, and historic significance which degrade or complicate the overall achievement of the mission’s objectives. The main goal of this research is to identify and understand the process of deployment and liquidation of troops in peace missions, by confronting aspects of the UN environmental legislation for this type of activity with its feasibility. The methodology used in this work was based on documentary research [Environmental Compliance Unit (UN, 2014) which defined the Standard Operating Procedures, Guidelines for environmental practices of the Brazilian Army in missions under the aegis of international organizations (Brazil, 2017)] and on the case study of the pos-deployment of Brazilian troops in the UN peacekeeping force in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The actions of the Brazilian contingent of the MINUSTAH were observed to be in agreement with the principles of the Environment Strategy of the United Nations Department of Field Support (UNDFS), which intends to achieve significant progress across five key pillars: energy, water and wastewater, solid waste, wider impact and environmental management system. The process of pos-deployment of Brazilian troops in Haiti has taken place in accordance with the legal precepts of the United Nations and has also been guided by the Environment Directorate of the Brazilian Army with the participation of environmental engineering team. The Brazilian mission has left Haiti with some legacies, such as: reforestation program and substantial improvement in the environmental quality of the areas under the responsibility of the Brazilian Army. In spite of the great potential pollutant of the military activity, it was observed that the Brazilian troops implemented initiatives that mitigated undesirable impacts by the establishment of programs of selective collection, composting, and use of renewable energies. These initiatives result of an environmental management program specially adapted to the mission’s specificities. By adopting this type of mission in poor countries like Haiti, it is possible to provide benefits that can help in implementing more sustainable public policies.
Keywords: MINUSTAH, environmental management, United Nations
9a. Peace and security
