World Environment Day

Three stories of restoring nature and revitalizing communities

War doesn’t just destroy homes, communities, and infrastructure. During conflict, the environment also takes a heavy toll.

Even after fighting ends, landmines and other unexploded remnants of war threaten natural landscapes. 

Land that once teemed with life becomes too dangerous for humans or animals to step foot on. Toxic chemicals used to make explosives leach into soil and water. Livelihoods that depend on safe land become impossible, forcing people to turn to more dangerous means of survival.

But around the world, communities are restoring the resources and beauty of the land, air, and water that surrounds them. 

This World Environment Day, we’re celebrating the many ways natural spaces around the world are coming back to life after war – from Colombia to Sri Lanka to the Solomon Islands.

In a rural community nestled in the mountains of central Colombia, hidden danger is finally coming out of the ground. Now, the community is committed to full recovery – starting with its most valuable institutions.

With help from HALO, students at this community’s school coordinated the planting of more than 1,200 trees. With each species native to the region, these include trees used for both timber and fruit.

The students themselves are now responsible for looking after the seedlings. As they grow, these sturdy trees will provide a critical barrier to wind erosion of the surrounding mountains – helping preserve soil and reducing air pollution in the area.

Here, landmine clearance is unlocking futures. Students grow up alongside their environment, learning how to care for their community. A community recovers from conflict. A life-sustaining ecosystem flourishes.

Mangrove trees are powerhouse plants. They can store carbon at rates up to four times greater than tropical rainforests. Their thick roots shelter marine wildlife. They also help protect against severe weather and erosion by absorbing wave force.

As an island nation, these trees are vital for Sri Lanka’s ecosystems. Years of war and thousands of landmines have hurt their population. Efforts to remove these explosives from the ground have also caused damage.

The mangroves’ degradation doesn’t just affect the earth around them – it affects the people who depend on the soil, water, and sea life. 

Without diverse marine life, fishermen have less to sell and eat. Without the fresh water supply that mangroves filter and protect from salty seawater, farmers cannot grow critical crops like rice. Without a strong barrier from floods and hurricanes, communities are more vulnerable to natural disasters.

In Kilali, a coastal area of northern Sri Lanka, the land is finally free of hidden explosives. Now, it’s time to put down roots. 

In March 2026, more than 70 volunteers from landmine-affected areas helped plant over 3,800 mangrove seedlings. With time, these trees will restore an entire coastal ecosystem that was once marred by war.

In the Solomon Islands, Langa Langa Lagoon is home to a diverse mangrove ecosystem that attracts large, diverse schools of fish.

Many surrounding communities here rely on these waters for food and income. But as the environment changes and the population grows, families here must find new ways to survive.

Overfishing, timber harvesting, and fewer numbers of key shells used to craft a traditional currency have pushed many to a practice called “fish bombing.” 

This involves taking the volatile parts of unexploded weapons to create improvised explosive devices. Fishers throw these homemade bombs into the water, stunning or killing many fish at once.

This dangerous practice harms people and nature alike. The explosions damage delicate coral reefs. The toxic chemicals inside the explosives kill sea life. Depleted fish populations quickly become unsustainable for communities.

Through community education sessions, HALO is turning people towards more sustainable fishing practices – so that the communities and their environment alike flourish.

The HALO community makes environmental restoration possible around the world. Your support brings nature back to life in places where war destroyed it.