GUIDELINES ON THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN ARMED CONFLICT

Summary of rules and recommendations

PART I: SPECIFIC PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. UNDER
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
Rule 1 - Due regard for the natural environment in military operations. Methods and means of warfare must be
employed with due regard to the protection and preservation of the natural environment.
Rule 2-Prohibition of widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment. The use of methods
or means of warfare that are intended, or may be expected, to cause widespread, long-term and severe damage
to the natural environment is prohibited
Rule 3-Prohibition of using the destruction of the natural environment as a weapon.
A. Destruction of the natural environment may not be used as a weapon.
B. For States party to the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of
Environmental Modification Techniques (ENMOD Convention), the military or any other hostile use of
environmental modification techniques having widespread, long-lasting or severe effects as the means of
destruction, damage or injury to any other State Party is prohibited.
Rule 4-Prohibition of attacking the natural environment by way of reprisal.
A. For States party to Protocol I additional to the Geneva Conventions (Additional Protocol 1):
i. Attacks against the natural environment by way of reprisal are prohibited.
ii. Reprisals against objects protected under the Protocol are prohibited, including when such objects are
part of the natural environment.
B. For all States, reprisals against objects protected under the Geneva Conventions or the Hague Convention
for the Protection of Cultural Property are prohibited, including when such objects are part of the natural
environment..
PART II: GENERAL PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW.
Rule 5-Principle of distinction between civilian objects and military objectives. No part of the natural
environment may be attacked, unless it is a military objective.
Rule 6 - Prohibition of indiscriminate attacks. Indiscriminate attacks are prohibited. Indiscriminate attacks are
those:.
A. which are not directed at a specific military objective;
B. which employ a method or means of combat which cannot be directed at a specific military objective; or
C. which employ a method or means of combat the effects of which cannot be limited as required by
international humanitarian law; and consequently, in each such case, are of a nature to strike military
objectives and civilians or civilian objects, including the natural environment, without distinction.

• Rule 7- Proportionality in attack. Launching an attack against a military objective which may be
expected to cause incidental damage to the natural environment which would be excessive in relation
to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated is prohibited.
Rule 8 - Precautions. In the conduct of military operations, constant care must be taken to spare the civilian
population, civilians and civilian objects, including the natural environment. All feasible precautions must be
taken to avoid, and in any event to minimize, incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to
civilian objects, including the natural environment.
Rule 9 - Passive precautions. Parties to the conflict must take all feasible precautions to protect civilian
objects under their control, including the natural environment, against the effects of attacks.
 GUIDELINES ON THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN ARMED CONFLICT

Rule 10 – Prohibitions regarding objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. Attacking,
destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population is
prohibited, including when such objects are part of the natural environment