Military

The Unseen Environmental Price of Military Activities

BY SOFREP News Team / October 14, 2023

While national defense is paramount, the often-overlooked environmental toll of military activities demands a shift towards more sustainable and eco-conscious defense strategies.

The environmental price of military activities spans from disrupted habitats to aerospace emissions.

A hidden story lurks beneath warfare: the environmental price of military activities. It’s a tale that doesn’t frequently make headlines, but its impact is profound and long-lasting.

The environment pays a hefty toll, sometimes in ways we might never expect. You have vast training grounds that disrupt local ecosystems and discarded military equipment that tarnishes landscapes. Through it all, our natural world is often on the receiving end of practices meant to ensure our security.

By spotlighting this unseen cost, we pave the way for informed decisions and sustainable practices in the future. This piece explores the intertwined relationship between national defense and Mother Nature’s well-being.

Ravaged Training Grounds and Natural Habitats

Training our troops is undeniably essential. However, the environmental ramifications of these exercises can sometimes be profound. Consider, for example, the wear and tear that extensive military training can inflict on land.

While specific figures from locations like Fort Benning in Georgia might vary, there’s no denying that repeated maneuvers, especially with heavy machinery like tanks, can lead to soil erosion and long-term habitat damage.

U.S. Army Soldiers, C Company, 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), conduct firing drills with Kenyan Defence Forces Rangers outside Camp Simba in Manda Bay, Kenya, Oct. 29, 2021. (Wikimedia Commons)

On the marine front, there are concerns about the potential effects of naval sonar exercises on marine life. Some studies suggest that maritime sonar frequencies, including whales, can interfere with marine mammals’ navigation, communication, and feeding.

These disturbances connect with strandings in specific instances. However, the full extent and causality are ongoing research topics.

Meanwhile, large-scale military exercises in Eastern Europe and elsewhere have occasionally overlapped with natural habitats, causing concerns for local wildlife.

The exact impact on species like the European bison might be complex and multifaceted. However, it underscores the broader point: military activities, essential as they are, come with an environmental price.

The environmental price of military activities is tangible and needs continuous monitoring and mitigation. Training is vital for defense, but balancing it with ecological responsibility is equally paramount.

The Aftermath of Live Ammunition Drills

Live ammunition exercises have notable environmental consequences. A significant concern arises from the lead residue left behind at many shooting ranges.

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This lead, originating from bullets, can accumulate in the soil, posing environmental and health risks. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has highlighted numerous firing ranges across the U.S. with potential lead soil contamination, emphasizing the widespread nature of this issue.

Unexploded ordnances (UXOs) further compound the environmental challenges. For instance, areas in Europe that witnessed heavy combat during WWII continue to confront the risks associated with these dormant threats.

Beyond the apparent explosion hazard, UXOs, over time, can erode and release harmful chemicals into the environment.

The environmental price of military activities, especially live ammunition drills, lingers long after the smoke clears. It’s a reminder of the lasting imprints such moves can leave on our ecosystems.

Abandoned Bases and Their Ghostly Footprints

Abandoned military bases, with their silent buildings and overgrown runways, evoke a sense of time frozen. Yet, beneath this quiet facade lies a significant environmental concern.

For example, the U.S. Army shut down Fort Ord in California, a once bustling post, in the 1990s. Subsequent investigations revealed vast areas contaminated with unexploded ordnance, pesticides, and petroleum.

Similarly, the former Clark Air Base in the Philippines, once used by the U.S. Air Force, has witnessed challenges from underground storage tanks that leaked toxic chemicals. Ultimately, it led to the contamination of groundwater.

An abandoned Soviet military base (Wikimedia Commons)

These remnants of military presence are a testament to the environmental price of military activities. The shadow of these bases stretches far beyond their rusting fences. They impact ecosystems and communities for generations.

Aerospace Emissions: The Sky’s Not the Limit

When a fighter jet tears through the sky, its display of might is undeniable. Yet behind this prowess lies an environmental cost, often overlooked.

Military aircraft, for instance, have significant fuel consumption rates. The exact amount varies depending on the aircraft model, flight conditions, and mission type.

But it’s safe to say that many military jets, such as the F-16, have a considerable hourly fuel consumption.

And when we talk about larger military transport aircraft, the numbers rise even further.

This intense fuel usage translates to substantial carbon emissions. The kicker? Military aircraft often operate under different environmental guidelines than their civilian counterparts. It’s mainly due to national security considerations.

As a result, the carbon footprint of military aerial activities remains a pivotal yet lesser-discussed facet of the environmental price of military activities.

Towards a Greener Defense Strategy

It’s not all a tale of woe. As awareness grows, many defense departments globally recognize the importance of sustainable military operations.

Green tech innovations, cleaner fuels, and eco-friendly infrastructure are slowly entering military strategies. After all, the expense of defending our nation must be balanced with the cost of protecting our environment.

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