Environmental impact of the Vietnam War

The Vietnam War had a major and long-lasting impact on the environment of the countries affected. The environment of Vietnam was severely degraded by the use of defoliants, bombing and other military activities.^[1] North Vietnam utilised the geography and ecology of the region to conceal their activities and move resources, such as via the complex network of tunnels and paths in the Ho Chi Minh trail. In response, the United States developed and deployed technologies and campaigns to clear forests and destabilise soil, greatly impacting the environment.^[2] Over the long-term, the long-term agricultural productivity in parts of Vietnam was reduced by Agent Orange and bombing campaigns.^[3] The war has also been linked to extensive deforestation and influenced the hydrology of the Mekong region.^[4][5]

A United States Air Force craft spraying defoliant in Vietnam.

See also

• Impact of Agent Orange in Vietnam

References

1. Orians, Gordon H.; Pfeiffer, E. W. (1970). "Ecological Effects of the War in Vietnam". Science. 168 (3931): 544–554. ISSN 0036-8075.
2. "The Origins of Ecocide: Revisiting the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the Vietnam War". Environment & Society Portal. 2020-05-21. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
3. Appau, Samuelson; Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa; Smyth, Russell; Trinh, Trong-Anh (2021-10-01). "The long-term impact of the Vietnam War on agricultural productivity". World Development. 146: 105613. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105613. ISSN 0305-750X.
4. Lacombe, Guillaume; Pierret, Alain (October 2013). "Hydrological impact of war‐induced deforestation in the Mekong Basin". Ecohydrology. 6 (5): 901–903. doi:10.1002/eco.1395. ISSN 1936-0584.
5. "Environmental and migratory consequences of the Vietnam War | Environmental Migration Portal". environmentalmigration.iom.int. Retrieved 2024-01-27.