An international symposium on improving Natural resource management in post-conflict countries held in the University of Tokyo has addressed the issues of ‘Business of Diamond Mining and Human Insecurities in Sierra Leone’, presented by Kazumi Kawamoto of the University of Tokyo, ‘Tracking Down Blood Diamonds: How Industry, Governments and NGOs Made Kimberley Process a Success?’, presented by Paivi Lujala of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway, as well as other issues such as ‘Post-Conflict Peacebuilding and Natural Resources: Lessons for Business’, as presented by Carl Bruch of the Environmental Law Institute in Washington DC.

Business of Diamond Mining and Human Insecurities in Sierra Leone
Kazumi Kawamoto, University of Tokyo
The war in Sierra Leone (1991-2002) resulted in thousands of deaths, amputees, refugees and internally displaced persons. Though not the sole cause of the conflict, diamonds were connected to the root causes of the war and played a significant role in prolonging it. Two diamond management mechanisms – Diamond Area Community Development Fund and Kimberley Process – were established to address causes of the war. The former aims to alleviate grievances of the mining communities (including marginalized youth), while the latter is intended to constrain the economy of “shadow states.” Kimberlite diamond mining was started in 2004 to facilitate peacebuilding in the country. However, it has raised a new potential conflict between the mining company and local communities. At the root of this conflict lies discontents over (1) relocation and resettlement, (2) the forced evacuation during blasting, (3) beneficiation for the community (including profit sharing),
and (4) participation of the local community. Now a standing village resettlement committee, which consists of all stakeholders, is working to resolve those issues.
Kazumi Kawamoto is a Master’s candidate at the Graduate School of Arts and Science in the University of Tokyo. She is majoring in International Relations, and participates in the Programme on Human Security in the University. Her research focuses on the mining sector in Sierra Leone, specifically sustainable opportunities in diamond mining. She is interested in the economic productivity of diamonds as well as governance over mining locations. Ms. Kawamoto is currently doing field work in Sierra Leone, working directly with stakeholders. Ms. Kawamoto has conducted research and volunteer work in Geneva (Switzerland), Indonesia, Cambodia, and Togo.

Tracking Down Blood Diamonds: How Industry, Governments, and NGOs Made Kimberley Process a Success?
Paivi Lujala, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
How can industry be engaged in and contribute to curbing conflict resources? This presentation concentrates on one example, the diamond sector, and especially on the Kimberley Process that was designed to curtail conflict diamonds. The Process was international community’s response to the notorious civil wars in Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola that were fueled by the sale of ‘guerrilla’s best friend’, diamonds. The diamond industry was at first hesitant to affect its lucrative business; however, facing large scale consumer boycott it felt compelled to join the initiative. The industry’s presence in the process was crucial, ensuring a certification scheme that the industry would both endorse and comply with. This presentation looks
at the role that the diamond industry played in the Kimberley Process. It then considers another initiative that can play an important role in managing resource revenues from diamond mining, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). If Kimberley Process Certification Scheme can make diamond mining legal, EITI can make the associated revenue flows publicly known; and both are of paramount importance for peacebuilding in post-conflict countries. The presentation will conclude by briefly looking at another industry initiative, ITRI Tin Supply Chain Initiative, which seeks to curb illegal tin trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
P?ivi Lujala is a post-doctoral fellow in Economics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and an associate researcher at the Centre for the Study of Civil War at the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (CSCW/PRIO). She has a BSc in Geography from the University of Helsinki, Finland, an MSc in Economics from Helsinki School of Economics, and a PhD in Economics from NTNU. Her research interests primarily focus on natural resources’ impacts on armed civil conflict. Dr. Lujala is the author of several articles that examine the role of diamonds, other gemstones, oil, gas, and drug cultivation in initiating, intensifying, and prolonging conflict.

Post-Conflict Peacebuilding and Natural Resources: Lessons for Business
Carl Bruch, Environmental Law Institute
Over the past three decades, and more, the international community has taken an increasingly active role in post-conflict peacebuilding. It has sought to keep the peace; disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate former combatants; rebuild livelihoods and national economies; restore governance structures and capacity; provide basic services such as water, energy, and sanitation; and regain control of natural resources that fueled war, such as “conflict diamonds” and timber. Natural resources are often an important, but under-appreciated component of post-conflict peacebuilding.
In countries where 70-80% of the population is rural, land, forests, and other natural resources are essential to rebuilding livelihoods and to reintegrating combatants. High-value natural resources such as diamonds, oil, gas, and timber can be central to national economic development, addressing corruption and other governance concerns, and – if not managed effectively – can undermine the post-conflict peace. Ongoing research coordinated by the Environmental Law Institute, the University of Tokyo, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the IUCN CEL Specialist Group on Armed Conflict & the Environment distills lessons learned from post-conflict natural resource management and peacebuilding. This presentation summarizes those lessons learned, paying particular attention to the lessons for effectively engaging businesses in
post-conflict recovery.
Carl Bruch is a Senior Attorney and Co-Director of International Programs at the Environmental Law Institute (ELI); he also co-chairs the IUCN CEL Specialist Group on Armed Conflict and the Environment. Mr. Bruch’s research focuses on making environmental law work. He has extensive experience internationally in helping countries develop and implement laws, policies, and institutional frameworks to effectively manage water resources, biodiversity, forests, and other natural resources. He is an authority on the means to prevent, reduce, mitigate, and compensate for damage to the environment during armed conflict. He edited and co-edited six books and authored dozens of scholarly articles.

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