Calling plants to the rescue - mitigating the detrimental effects of warfare with phytotechnology

Armed conflicts imply loss of civilian life and infrastructural damage, but military activities also cause numerous environmental impacts. Plants play an essential role in the functioning of life on Earth. Here, we summarize three plant-based strategies for mitigating the impacts of warfare: (i) increased food security through urban gardening, (ii) gardening for meaning-making in the midst of conflict and support for social cohesion and mental health, and (iii) post-war phytoremediation.