LATIN AMERICAN MILITARIES: ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES GAINING GROUND SLOWLY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005284784
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: May 27, 2011
• Case Number: F-2008-00831
• Publication Date: September 25, 1997

Intelligence Report
DCI Environmental Center
Slowly
25 September 1997
Latin American Militaries: Environmental Activities Gaining Ground
and reforestation.
With a few exceptions, militaries throughout South America, Central America,
and the Caribbean lack statutory mandates to engage in broad environmental-
related missions. In addition, several militaries, facing budget and personnel cuts,
are reluctant to assume a large environmental protection role. Nonetheless, those
militaries seeking new post- Cold War era missions are slowly expanding their
efforts in non-traditional areas that assist civilian government environmental
protection measures such as enforcement of anti-logging laws, oilspill clean-up,
A survey of countries in Latin America indicates that only a few, notably the
Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Uruguay, have environmental protection
mandates spelled out by the national constitution or military regulations.' Moreover,
several militaries are reluctant to assume a larger role in environmental protection.
? In Argentina, senior commanders argue that scarce budget resources
should be devoted to more traditional national security and personnel
concerns-salaries have declined by 50 percent in real terms since
1990-and the high command appears wary of devoting funds to issues
that it does not view as a top priority
? In Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, and elsewhere, many senior
army officers remain uneasy about ecological issues because they
tend to associate environmentalism with leftist political causes.
Environmental activists are sometimes referred to by military
personnel as "watermelons," green on the outside and red on the inside.
? Many senior commanders often complain about what they perceive
as foreign government and NGO attempts to control domestic
management of forest resources under a 1967 law
In the Dominican Republic, for example, the military is charged with conservation and
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DATE: 17-May-2011
 exploitation of natural resources and dictate policies through
international environmental treaties or diplomacy; Brazilian army
officials publicly have accused the US, other governments, and
international environmental groups of trying to "internationalize" the
Amazon region.
For their part, most civilian leaders also have not fully embraced the idea of deploying
their armed forces for environmental purposes. Although militaries in the Caribbean
play a major role in road building and other civic actions, most civilian leaders -
especially in recently pacified and democratized countries in Central America-are
reluctant to give their militaries expanded environmental protection or law
enforcement duties. After decades of struggling to exert civilian control over restless
militaries in the region, many civilians argue that such a shift would risk unnecessarily
involving the military in political affairs
? Civilian governments likely will resist giving their militaries a broader
environmental mandate that would give them direct, independent
control over large projects and programs.
That said, several militaries have made important contributions to environmental issues
in the region mostly on an ad hoc basis. In addition to participating in disaster relief
efforts, experience gained by providing assistance to civilian agencies in oilspill clean-
up, firefighting, and other areas appears to be sensitizing militaries to environmental
problems and may spur willingness to play a greater role in conservation, especially if
funding, training, and other rewards are forthcoming. This trend could gain
momentum if civilian leaders continue to articulate the need to protect natural
resources-waterways, fisheries, and forests-as a security issue. 2
? In some countries -Chile and Peru, for example-the navy or
coast guard is charged with protecting marine environments and
enforcing fishing restrictions; the Venezuelan Coast Guard in
September arrested more than 20 fisherman from Trinidad and
Tobago who were illegally fishing off the coast. The Uruguayan
military helps enforce laws protecting national parks, assists in oilspill
2Fhe Miami Summit of the Americas (SOA) in 1994 and the Sustainable Development
Conference in Bolivia in 1996 served as catalysts for regional dialogue and collaboration on
a wide range of issues. including the environment. Article IV of the SOA Plan of Action
calls on countries to guarantee sustainable development and conservation of the natural
environment for future generations, and to work toward sustainable energy use, biodiversity
and pollution prevention.
 -emi n is
clean-up-most recently in the San Jorge spill last February-
Firefighting, anti-logging patrols, monitoring poaching of
endangered species and illegal mining are common forms of military
support to civilian governments in Central American countries, as
well as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and Venezuela.
Military Activities and the Environment
In many of the lesser developed countries, where environmental laws are often
ambiguous and spread across multiple ministries, domestic enforcement is weak and
oversight of military activities that could harm the. environment is nearly non-
existent
? Some militaries have appointed forestry or marine'resourceexperts to .. .
coordinate with civilian agencies but thereis.a significant lack of resources,
equipment., expertise, and training in environmental protection among the. region's militaries. These deficiencies often precluderegional. armed: forces
from taking effective measures to limit the environmental impact of their own
activities
although most militaries?in the region.are obliged to
comply with national. environmental laws and standards during routine duties,
there is scant enforcement of even minimum requirements to remove and
safely store hazardous substances, restore natural areas, or clean-up... I
ranges and training grounds
3
en is
 Outlook. Over the long term, the trend toward political and economic cooperation
and integration in the region probably will provide a catalyst for the upward
harmonization of environmental standards. In turn, these trends may eventually
increase the pressure on regional militaries-often the most organized, disciplined, and
cohesive institutions in some Latin American countries-to take on a greater
role in enforcing the growing number of domestic environmental laws and international
treaty obligations, including those addressing environmental crimes
such as the black market in ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons and illegal marine
dumping of hazardous and radioactive wastes. Conversely, in countries where
civil conflict is ongoing or still a fresh memory-such as Colombia, Guatemala,
El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Peru-civilians will likely remain reluctant to
encourage their militaries to take on environmental missions given the lingering
sensitivity to military involvement in traditionally civilian responsibilities.
-Ger en ial