Roots of Peace

Roots of Peace
Name	Roots of Peace
Formation	1997
Founders	Rosie Gates
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	San Rafael, California
Region served	Global
Focus	Landmine removal, agricultural redevelopment, humanitarian demining

Roots of Peace is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to removing antipersonnel landmines and restoring arable land for farming. Founded in the late 1990s, the organization works across conflict-affected regions to convert former battlefields into productive agricultural zones while coordinating with humanitarian, diplomatic, and development actors. Its programs intersect with mine action, post-conflict reconstruction, and food security initiatives.

History

Roots of Peace emerged from post-Cold War and post-conflict humanitarian responses linked to events such as the Sierra Leone Civil War, the aftermath of the Soviet–Afghan War, and demining needs identified after the Bosnian War. Early work referenced international frameworks like the Ottawa Treaty and organizations including the United Nations Mine Action Service and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The group expanded its operations amid global mine action efforts led by actors such as Geneva Call, HALO Trust, and Mines Advisory Group, coordinating with national authorities like the Afghan National Army and ministries in countries affected by ordnance from conflicts like the Yom Kippur War and the Iran–Iraq War. Roots of Peace engaged with diplomatic partners including the United States Department of State, the European Commission, and multilateral donors that supported clearance in regions formerly contested in the Kurdish–Turkish conflict and the Kosovo War.

Mission and Programs

The organization’s mission aligns with international humanitarian law principles as advocated by entities such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Food Programme. Program areas include mine action coordination with local authorities like the Ministry of Agriculture (Afghanistan), agricultural rehabilitation in zones impacted by conflicts including the Lebanese Civil War and the Gulf War, and community-based initiatives paralleling work by CARE International and Oxfam. Roots of Peace partners with research institutions such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and universities like Stanford University and University of California, Davis to deliver training, seed distribution, and agronomy support. Its programming complements efforts by development banks such as the World Bank and regional bodies like the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Landmine Removal and Demining Techniques

Demining operations coordinated by Roots of Peace integrate methods promoted by the United Nations Mine Action Service, technical guidance from Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, and equipment manufacturers showcased at venues like the International Mine Action Standards consultations. Techniques include manual clearance informed by practices used by the HALO Trust and the Mines Advisory Group, mechanical clearance employing machines similar to those used by Danish Demining Group, and explosive ordnance disposal protocols paralleling training from the NATO EOD units. The organization liaises with certification bodies such as the Mine Action Review and utilizes mapping standards compatible with the International Organization for Standardization guidance applied by humanitarian demining teams in contexts like the Cambodian-Vietnamese border and the Angolan Civil War zones.

Agricultural and Economic Development

Following clearance, Roots of Peace implements agricultural rehabilitation inspired by models from the Green Revolution era and programs of the Food and Agriculture Organization. Crop selection and value chain development draw on expertise from institutions like the International Rice Research Institute, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, and CABI. Post-clearance projects have included vineyard restoration comparable to programs in Champagne, tree-planting initiatives evoking work by the United Nations Environment Programme, and smallholder capacity building similar to interventions by Heifer International and Landesa. Economic recovery efforts coordinate with trade partners and market actors such as the World Trade Organization and regional chambers of commerce, and they mirror agricultural export rehabilitation seen after the Rwandan Genocide and conflict in Mozambique.

Partnerships and Funding

Roots of Peace collaborates with a broad network including governmental funders such as the United States Agency for International Development, the United Kingdom Department for International Development, and donor programs from the European Union. It partners with international NGOs like Mercy Corps, Save the Children, and World Vision, and with corporate supporters and foundations in the mold of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Multilateral cooperation includes coordination with the United Nations Office for Project Services, the Asian Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund on linkage of demining to development financing. Private philanthropy, public grants, and in-kind contributions from institutions such as Goldman Sachs and philanthropic branches of the Carnegie Corporation have supported project implementation.

Impact and Recognition

The organization’s clearance and redevelopment work has been noted alongside demining successes in countries like Afghanistan, Cambodia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Iraq. Recognition has involved engagement with award programs and forums such as the Nansen Refugee Award deliberations, presentations at the World Economic Forum, and acknowledgments in policy dialogues hosted by the United Nations General Assembly and the Geneva Conference on Humanitarian Demining. Its model—linking humanitarian clearance with agricultural revival—has been cited in studies by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and the International Crisis Group as contributing to livelihoods restoration in post-conflict zones, comparable to reintegration efforts after the Sierra Leone Civil War and stability projects in Timor-Leste.

Category:Non-profit organizations Category:Humanitarian demining Category:International nongovernmental organizations