Destruction of Nature through Warfare in (Austrian) Galicia during the First World War

The First World War caused significant environmental destruction in Austrian Galicia, affecting its soil, orchards, forests, beekeeping, wildlife, and aquatic ecosystems. The study synthesizes the impact of warfare on the natural landscape between 1914 and 1918 using state records and landed estate materials, revealing widespread devastation due to military operations, occupation, and neglect. The research highlights lesser-explored aspects of environmental history in Galicia, complementing existing studies on military, political, and social consequences of the war.

Kargol, T. (2024). Destruction of Nature through Warfare in (Austrian) Galicia during the First World War. The Great War and the Anthropocene, 77–94. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004711815_005