PARIS — Implementing Natural Defenses through Rewilding
Revitalizing natural landscapes such as forests, peatlands, and wetlands along the peripheries of Europe could serve as formidable barriers against invading armored units at significantly lower costs than traditional anti-tank barriers, while simultaneously offering environmental advantages, according to researchers. Similarly, restoring mangrove forests could provide coastal defenses in tropical regions.
Strategic and Environmental Benefits of Defensive Rewilding
The concept of “defensive rewilding” marries national security with climate resilience by strategically positioning rewilding initiatives to naturally obstruct, slow down, or direct invading forces, outlined researchers Sam Jelliman, Brian Schmidt, and Alan Chandler in an article for the RUSI Journal published on April 7. This approach not only hampers military advances but also enhances carbon capture and biodiversity.
Unlike temporary and localized tactical defenses like minefields or field fortifications, defensive rewilding establishes enduring, large-scale natural barriers that shape the battlefield dynamics before any conflict arises, the researchers explained. They referenced multiple historical instances where terrain played a crucial role in military outcomes, including World War II and the recent conflicts in Ukraine.
The adoption of defensive rewilding is gaining interest among environmentalists, though it is yet to receive widespread endorsement from military strategists, noted Jelliman, a researcher at the Sustainability Research Institute of the University of East London, in a conversation with Defense News. He mentioned that the concept finds more favor in regions close to Russia.
Jelliman revealed that he has engaged in discussions with various military departments, including the U.K. Ministry of Defence, to advocate for defensive rewilding as a dual-benefit strategy that enhances both military and environmental outcomes.
Cost-Effective and Environmentally Friendly Military Strategies
Defensive rewilding physically transforms the geography of potential conflict zones into landscapes that are difficult for mechanized forces to traverse or that funnel them into more vulnerable areas, thus increasing the costs and risks of aggression, the researchers elaborated. Furthermore, restored natural areas such as peatlands or dense forests are non-threatening by appearance and offer a way to strengthen defenses without contributing to regional arms races.
The establishment of a defensive wetland strip could range from £90,000 to £540,000 ($120,000-$724,000) per kilometer, depending on its breadth, which is substantially less than the £1 million to £3 million required for a kilometer of concrete anti-tank ditch, according to the report.
Restored wetlands offer soft terrain with low bearing capacity unsuitable for heavy vehicles like main battle tanks, and deeper water levels that could hinder logistics movements, the researchers pointed out. The lower bearing capacity of wet peatlands renders them impassable even for lighter armored vehicles.
Historically, areas like the Pripet Marshes along the Belarus-Ukraine border served as significant obstacles to German forces in 1941, and reinstating the natural hydrology of these peatlands could provide a durable, self-maintaining alternative to concrete defenses, the report suggested.
The Historical and Strategic Value of Rewilding
Jelliman commented on the extensive drainage of wetlands in Eastern Europe for agricultural purposes during the Soviet era, noting that regions in northern Ukraine are drier and more accessible for movement than they naturally would be. He explained that re-wetting these peat bogs by blocking drainage channels is a straightforward process, and within a year, the terrain becomes significantly softer and more challenging to navigate.
According to Jelliman, peatlands not only present the most formidable natural barriers but are also highly effective for carbon sequestration, making them a primary focus of rewilding efforts.
Rewilded forests can create natural obstacles impeding tank movement, disrupt line-of-sight for anti-tank missiles, and reduce the effectiveness of kinetic projectiles, significantly enhancing the defensibility of positions compared to open terrain, the researchers indicated.
For coastal defenses, particularly in the Pacific region, the restoration of mangrove forests could be highly effective, as Jelliman noted that landing crafts could get stuck without a clear landing spot. He also mentioned the potential of artificial reefs to serve as biodiversity havens and coastal protectors while posing significant obstacles to amphibious landing forces.
Restoring the natural meandering of rivers and softening their banks could make them considerably more challenging to bridge with military engineering, as demonstrated by Ukrainian forces in 2022 who successfully utilized the natural features of the Siverskyi Donets River to thwart several Russian crossing attempts. These modifications also contribute to natural flood control and habitat restoration, the researchers added.
The Future of Defensive Rewilding
Moving forward, more research is needed to establish the practicality and effectiveness of defensive rewilding, with countries like Finland, Estonia, and Poland already exploring advanced applications of this strategy, Jelliman shared. He suggested that defense ministries aiming to meet national carbon-reduction goals might find significant value in rewilding, both as a tactical defense measure and a method of achieving net-zero emissions targets.
Considering upcoming substantial defense budgets, Jelliman highlighted that defensive rewilding allows for the concurrent allocation of funds to defense and environmental conservation. He posited that this approach could potentially redefine resilience spending within NATO, aligning well with broader strategic and environmental objectives.
“If we can establish this as a cost-effective method for strengthening borders and enhancing resilience, that would be highly beneficial,” Jelliman concluded.
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Jamal Peterson reports on defense, aerospace, and tech policy. With a military background and a strategic mind, he dissects complex subjects with clarity, offering readers sharp, reliable insights.
