Statement delivered in Plenary session 1: Mine action and food security — making the investment case

Thank you to all the panellists for the insightful discussion which highlighted the important connection between mine action and food security. The release of contaminated land for agricultural use is essential, and enables people to farm their land and feed their families in safety.

It is extremely positive to hear about the work that is being done within the sector on what happens to land after it is released back to the community. And while there is no dedicated plenary on the environment at the NDM this year, we wanted to highlight the environment as a cross-cutting issue. In the context of food security for example, environmental assessments should be integral to the land release process. Explosive ordnance contamination can release toxic pollutants into the soil posing a potential health risk and diminishing soil quality and productivity. Furthermore, certain land release methods such as the use of mechanical assets can compromise soil structure and fertility.

The panellists underscored the need for enhanced coordination between mine action and various actors in the food security domain. We support this call for broader collaboration, which should include expertise to build climate resilience, follow climate-smart agricultural practices, and safeguard future food production. We are encouraged by innovative approaches, such as APOPO’s introduction of syntropic farming practices to affected communities. Combining mine action activities with agroforestry projects can create a powerful synergy for sustainable development and environmental conservation.

We were pleased to hear from the Ukrainian panellists and welcome recent environmental initiatives in mine action in Ukraine, notably:

• Ukraine has elaborated a new NMAS on the environment and mine action and a new Mine Action strategy which incorporates environmental obligations, both of which are awaiting formal adoption.
• This week, the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are hosting a workshop on the environmental damage in Ukraine, including a panel on demining to discuss environmental issues and remediation.
• A webinar has been launched in partnership with GICHD, the Ukraine Humanitarian Demining Centre, HALO Trust, and FSD on demining and the environment in Ukraine. HALO has also conducted initial soil sampling of craters in agricultural fields in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. On land cleared by FSD in Ukraine, FAO are sampling soil to assess for possible contamination and provide guidelines for ensuring safe food production.

We also wanted to highlight some of the work that is being done across the mine action sector more broadly regarding the environment:

• The revised IMAS 07.13 on Environmental Management and Climate Change, has been scheduled for review and approval by the IMAS Review Board. An accompanying Technical Note on Mine Action will help support its operationalisation.
• In May, Azerbaijan, the President of the COP 29 Climate Change Conference, will host an International Conference on “Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future” organized by ANAMA and UNDP.
• Mine Action Review’s second policy brief on the environment and GICHD’s follow up study on climate change and mine action are both scheduled for publication later this year.
• The UK FCDO has awarded grant funding to NPA and CEOBS to roll-out and share their green field tool and develop common environmental reporting indicators.
• MAG has published their new Strategic Framework for 2024-2028, which sets out their environmental responsibilities including encouraging innovation at the operational level to adapt programmes in environmentally sensitive ways.
• The Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines is exploring a joint partnership with the Geneva-based Climate Action Accelerator, to enhance approaches to sustainability.
• In 2023, APOPO conducted a global carbon footprint baseline survey to capture the impact of its carbon off set activities combining tree planting and Syntropic Farming. APOPO piloted Syntropic Farming in Zimbabwe, and most recently a new syntropic farm was planted in Angola, next to a clearance task.
• More and more mine action field camps are powered by solar panels instead of diesel generators, waste is better recycled, and there has been innovation across the sector to improve the sustainability of equipment.

These varied initiatives highlight the sector’s commitment to integrating environmental considerations into mine action. Collective, incremental actions can often provide more substantial and practical benefits than isolated, ambitious projects.

Nevertheless, progress is still needed to implement and monitor environmental management strategies effectively.

While appreciating that resource constraints may hinder the prioritization of environmental and climate considerations within mine action programmes, we strongly advocate for continued support and engagement. The costs of many environmental initiatives are not prohibitive. The upcoming Fifth Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention presents an opportunity to strengthen this agenda, and we are committed to supporting the delivery of a five-year treaty Action Plan that enhances environmental and climate outcomes in mine action.

Thank you.

Statement supported by

• Apopo
• Conflict and Environment Observatory
• Danish Refugee Council
• Humanity and Inclusion
• Fondation Suisse de Déminage
• ICBL-CMC
• International Humanitarian Law and Youth Initiative
• Legacies of War
• Mine Action Review
• Mines Action Canada
• Mines Advisory Group
• Norwegian People’s Aid
• The HALO Trust