The aim of land release is to increase efficiency in Mine Action. It is about releasing land where no evidence of explosive hazards has been found through survey techniques in order to focus clearance assets on actual hazardous areas. Once the location of mines/ERW has been identified, clearance is a relatively straightforward activity, but actually locating mines/ERW and deciding where to start and stop clearance is the main challenge in regard to efficiency.

This publication aims at explaining how and why survey and clearance methods for areas contaminated by unexploded submunitions (from cluster munitions) are different to those for areas contaminated by mines and other ERW. A proposed Land Release methodology for dealing with unexploded submunitions is also described.