Europe explores using natural ecosystems as a defense strategy, leveraging landscapes like marshes and forests to hinder enemy advances.
Ecosystems as defensive barriers
Europe is exploring the idea of restoring natural ecosystems as a potential defense strategy against invasions. Marshes, forests, and floodplains are being considered for their ability to act as natural barriers for enemy forces.Ukraine war influences strategy
This approach is influenced by recent events in the war in Ukraine, where the deliberate flooding of the Irpin Valley turned agricultural land into marshland. This transformation hindered the movement of armored vehicles and demonstrated the potential of natural terrain as a military obstacle.European Commission promotes restoration
The European Commission is encouraging member states to restore border ecosystems. This initiative combines efforts to protect biodiversity, manage water resources, and enhance territorial security through natural means.Security and environment as one
The European Commissioner for the Environment, Jessika Roswall, supports this strategy. She argues that specific landscapes can impede military forces and that investing in nature can provide a natural form of border control.Dual benefits of the approach
Roswall describes the strategy as a "win-win" for both environmental and security goals. By integrating natural landscapes into European security policies, the approach seeks to achieve multiple objectives simultaneously.
