Armed conflicts don’t just devastate communities—they also scar the environment for decades. According to Space, unexploded bombs and landmines left behind after wars continue to poison soil, water, and farmland, with the problem made worse by Climate change. Ukraine, now the most landmine-contaminated country in the world, has seen agricultural production collapse as millions of acres remain unsafe for farming.

These remnants of war do more than pose immediate danger to civilians. Studies from Cambodia and Iraq show they leak toxic heavy metals into the soil, harming local ecosystems and threatening health through polluted food chains and water supplies. Farmers often avoid using machinery in contaminated areas, limiting crop yields and keeping once-fertile land barren.

The challenge is compounded by a warming planet. Floods and heavy rains can unearth old landmines, spreading them into previously safe zones, while heatwaves have triggered spontaneous explosions at munition sites in Iraq and Jordan. Wildfires in Ukraine and the UK have even set off unexploded ordnance, creating unpredictable risks for fire crews and nearby communities.

The consequences extend beyond war zones. Clearing landmines requires heavy machinery that damages fragile soils, and controlled detonations can release more contaminants into the air and ground. Combined with droughts, rising sea levels, and desertification, these dangers threaten food security for millions and block communities from rebuilding after conflict.

The lesson is clear: explosive remnants of war don’t just kill in battle—they continue harming people, animals, and land long after the fighting ends. Climate change magnifies these threats, making once-stable areas volatile and unsafe.

To protect both people and the earth, governments and aid organizations must treat post-war recovery, climate resilience, and land restoration as interconnected challenges. Every effort to clear weapons, restore soil, and transition toward safer, plant-based food systems helps create a more sustainable and peaceful future.

Let’s stand for a world where resources go not into weapons, but into healing land, protecting wildlife, and building a safer environment for generations to come.

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