Karen Guo

Environmental Ramifications of Forced Displacement Pertaining to Burmese Refugees

Started Dec. 11, 2023

Abstract or project description

Perpetuated by conflicting religious beliefs, the sexual assault and murder of a Buddhist woman in 2012 was instrumental in exacerbating the conflict between the Rohingya minority residing in Rakhine state and the official Burmese government, most of whom are Buddhist. In 2017, genocide against the Rohingya began, resulting in half the Rohingya population fleeing to nearby countries. Refugee displacement has several impacts on its surrounding communities, including environmental ramifications. Displacement of indigenous tribes has created an opportunity for intensified government industry, increasing exploitation of natural resources compared to previous usage of the environment involving native farming methods like shifting cultivation which rejuvenates the land through the periodic rests. This literature review examines the ways in which the forced displacement of Rohingya refugees impacts the environment through uncovering certain industries, such as petroleum extraction and mining, and ranking resulting trends that contributed to the destruction of the environment. Sources were selected based on the suitability and saturation (whether additional information was present in new sources) originating from professional periodicals. The findings of this paper suggest that the forced displacement of Burmese refugees have the most profound impact and explicit link to ecosystem destruction and deforestation. I also propose potential solutions to aid environmentalism and indigenous inclusivity, including involving all ethnic tribes in governance and using religion as an incentive for environmental conservation.