God did not save the kings: Environmental consequences of the 1982 Falklands War

Warfare has been found to have detrimental impacts on local ecosystems. Armed conflict can generate environmental damages through intertwined channels: scorched earth tactics, indirect effects following institutional collapse or economic and social disruption, direct of combat operations. While the two first channels are well understood, third one comparatively neglected. This paper analyzes consequences largest aerial naval conflicts late 20th century, namely 1982 Falklands War. As an indicator marine ecosystem status, we analyze population trends king penguins breeding in Falkland Islands over period 1963–1997. Using interrupted time series analysis, which then complement with a synthetic control group based data from other Sub-Antarctic colonies, find that war significantly slowed growth rate penguins' population.