GUIDELINES ON THE PROTECTION 
           OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 
           IN ARMED CONFLICT
           RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO THE PROTECTION  
           OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, 
           WITH COMMENTARY
           ADVANCE COPY
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     EREN
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           GUIDELINES ON THE PROTECTION 
           OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 
           IN ARMED CONFLICT
           RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO THE PROTECTION  
           OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, 
           WITH COMMENTARY
           ADVANCE COPY
          GUIDELINES ON THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN ARMED CONFLICT 
           
          Table of contents 
          Foreword ................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 
          Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 
          Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6 
          Summary of rules and recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 7 
          Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................ 11 
          Preliminary considerations on the protection  of the natural environment under international humanitarian law ..... 15 
          PART I: SPECIFIC PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN  
          LAW ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 
           Rule 1 – Due regard for the natural environment in military operations ............................................................................. 27 
           Rule 2 – Prohibition of widespread, long-term and severe damage  to the natural environment ............................ 29 
           Rule 3 – Prohibition of using the destruction of the natural environment as a weapon ............................................... 40 
           Rule 4 – Prohibition of attacking the natural environment by way of reprisal ................................................................. 44 
          PART II: GENERAL PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN 
          LAW ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 46 
          Section 1. Protection afforded to the natural environment as civilian in character by the principles of distinction, 
          proportionality and precautions ........................................................................................................................................... 46 
           Rule 5 – Principle of distinction between civilian objects and military objectives ........................................................... 47 
           Rule 6 – Prohibition of indiscriminate attacks ............................................................................................................................... 50 
           Rule 7 – Proportionality in attack ........................................................................................................................................................ 53 
           Rule 8 – Precautions ................................................................................................................................................................................ 56 
           Rule 9 – Passive precautions ................................................................................................................................................................ 60 
          Section 2. Protection afforded to the natural environment by the rules on specially protected objects other than the 
          natural environment ............................................................................................................................................................... 63 
           Rule 10 – Prohibitions regarding objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population ............................ 63 
           Rule 11 – Prohibitions regarding works and installations containing dangerous forces ................................................ 66 
           Rule 12 – Prohibitions regarding cultural property ..................................................................................................................... 69 
          Section 3. Protection afforded to the natural environment as a civilian object by the rules on enemy property ........ 72 
           Rule 13 – Prohibition of the destruction of the natural environment not justified by imperative military 
           necessity ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 72 
           Rule 14 – Prohibition of pillage ............................................................................................................................................................. 74 
           Rule 15 – Rules concerning private and public property, including the natural environment, in case of 
           occupation .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 76 
          Section 4. Additional protections for the natural environment under international humanitarian law ......................... 79 
           Rule 16 –The Martens Clause with respect to the protection of the natural environment ........................................... 79 
           Recommendation 17 – Conclusion of agreements to provide additional protection to the natural environment 81 
           Recommendation 18 – Application to non-international armed conflicts of international humanitarian law 
           rules protecting the natural environment in international armed conflicts ....................................................................... 84 
          PART III: PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AFFORDED BY RULES ON SPECIFIC WEAPONS .......... 85 
           Rule 19 – Prohibition of using poison or poisoned weapons ..................................................................................................... 85 
           Rule 20 – Prohibition of using biological weapons ....................................................................................................................... 87 
           Rule 21 – Prohibition of using chemical weapons ........................................................................................................................ 89 
           Rule 22 – Prohibition of using herbicides as a method of warfare ......................................................................................... 91 
           Rule 23 – Incendiary weapons ............................................................................................................................................................. 94 
           Rule 24 – Landmines ............................................................................................................................................................................... 96 
           Rule 25 – Minimizing the impact of explosive remnants of war, including unexploded cluster munitions ........ 100 
          PART IV: RESPECT FOR, IMPLEMENTATION AND DISSEMINATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW 
          RULES PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................... 104 
           Rule 26 – Obligation to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, including the rules 
           protecting the natural environment .................................................................................................................................................. 104 
           Rule 27 – National implementation of international humanitarian law rules protecting the natural environment
            ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 107 
           Rule 28 – Repression of war crimes that concern the natural environment ..................................................................... 109 
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          GUIDELINES ON THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN ARMED CONFLICT 
           
           Rule 29 – Instruction in international humanitarian law within armed forces, including in the rules protecting 
           the natural environment ......................................................................................................................................................................... 111 
           Rule 30 – Dissemination of international humanitarian law, including of the rules protecting the natural 
           environment, to the civilian population ........................................................................................................................................... 113 
           Rule 31 – Legal advice to the armed forces on international humanitarian law, including on the rules protecting 
           the natural environment ........................................................................................................................................................................ 114 
           Rule 32 – Evaluation of whether new weapons, means or methods of warfare would be prohibited by 
           international humanitarian law, including by the rules protecting the natural environment .................................... 115 
          Bibliography ......................................................................................................................................................................... 117 
          Annex: List of peer reviewers ............................................................................................................................................. 127 
           
           
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