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Is NRS the new NRM? (3 answers)

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This question is about December 8, 2010: Security and Natural Resources - Implications for Development Assistance- Video

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With depleted fisheries encouraging piracy, and climate change impacting millions on land, sustainable security has become an important development topic. Is national security in your country focusing enough on "natural" security? What do you think about a paradigm shift from NRM to NRS?

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Jan 13, 2011

Shift from NRM to Natural security will be a very welcome idea for the simple reason that , linking National security to Natural resources will bring out the 'urgency' and necessary funds and policy for the protection of a countries natural resources. In my experience, issues of NRM is not given the deserved attention relative to National security. For a small country like Cameroon, if we undertake a comparism of the the budget of the Ministry of Defence and the Minisitry of Forestry and Wildlife + the Minisitry of Environment and Nature protection, that of defence far surpasses that of the two ministries combined. The case of the USA cannot be over emphasised. It is very clear that the next causes of insecurity and wars will be Natural resources. Already we are witnessing how environmental and resource conflicts are posing serious threat to the souvereignty of nations. Example of Nigeria with the resource conflicts in Jos which is now taking a religious and ehtnic conotations, along the frontier of Ghana and Burkina faso with dispute on the use and management of the Volta etc. I strongly support a gradual shift from NRM to NS. or the creation of an independent powerful body within the UN to work on issues relating to Natural Security and National security. At the National levels, they should be the creation of powerful minisiterial department, the ministry of Natural security indepedingly and liasing the various ministries in NRM and National Security, Internal security , foreign affairs ETC.
Thanks, this is an extremely important debate.

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Jan 13, 2011

Shift from NRM to Natural security will be a very welcome idea for the simple reason that , linking National security to Natural resources will bring out the 'urgency' and necessary funds and policy for the protection of a countries natural resources. In my experience, issues of NRM is not given the deserved attention relative to National security. For a small country like Cameroon, if we undertake a comparism of the the budget of the Ministry of Defence and the Minisitry of Forestry and Wildlife + the Minisitry of Environment and Nature protection, that of defence far surpasses that of the two ministries combined. The case of the USA cannot be over emphasised. It is very clear that the next causes of insecurity and wars will be Natural resources. Already we are witnessing how environmental and resource conflicts are posing serious threat to the souvereignty of nations. Example of Nigeria with the resource conflicts in Jos which is now taking a religious and ehtnic conotations, along the frontier of Ghana and Burkina faso with dispute on the use and management of the Volta etc. I strongly support a gradual shift from NRM to NS. or the creation of an independent powerful body within the UN to work on issues relating to Natural Security and National security. At the National levels, they should be the creation of powerful minisiterial department, the ministry of Natural security indepedingly and liasing the various ministries in NRM and National Security, Internal security , foreign affairs ETC.
Thanks, this is an extremely important debate.
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  Jan 14, 2011
  
  Also check out the paper series I added to the Tools and Resources tab (I created a relationship with a link below on this page so you can find it easily). The topic is on climate change and Security and in the body of the page I've added a link to 4 new papers.
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  Feb 8, 2011
  
  While I agree that there are many conflicts that can be linked to scarce or poorly managed natural resources, I still see NRS as a subset of NRM. There are many cases where natural resources are soundly or sustainably managed where conflict or insecurity is absent. I think it's difficult to equate NRM with NRS in all cases.
  
  That said, I do agree with Elvis that NRM often does not receive the attention it deserves. To promote its importance and the urgent need of sound/sustainable management, I think NRM practitioners must highlight the many cases of conflict and insecurity linked to depleted or poorly managed resources. In many ways, this seems to be a public awareness or public relations issue. What do NRM practitioners need to do to improve communication about NRS and the inherent risks (exacerbated by climate change) of poor NRM?