Status of the World’s Soil Resources.

 

This document presents the first major global assessment ever on soils and related issues. Why was such an assessment not carried out before? We have taken soils for granted for a long time. Nevertheless, soils are the foundation of food production and food security, supplying plants with nutrients, water, and support for their roots. Soils function as Earth’s largest water filter and storage tank; they contain more carbon than all above-ground vegetation, hence regulating emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases; and they host a tremendous diversity of organisms of key importance to ecosystem processes. However, we have been witnessing a reversal in attitudes, especially in light of serious concerns expressed by soil practitioners in all regions about the severe threats to this natural resource. In this more auspicious context, when the international community is fully recognizing the need for concerted action , the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS), the main scientific advisory body to the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), took the initiative to prepare this much needed assessment. The issuance of this first “Status of the World’s Soil Resources” report was most appropriately timed with the occasion of the International Year of Soils (2015) declared by the General Assembly of the United Nations. It was made possible by the commitment and contributions of hosts of reputed soil scientists and their institutions. Our gratitude goes to the Lead Authors, Contributing Authors, Editors and Reviewers who have participated in this effort, and in particular to the Chairperson of the ITPS, for his dedicated guidance and close follow up. Many governments have supported the participation of their resident scientists in the process and contributed resources, thus also assuring the participation of experts from developing countries and countries with economies in transition. In addition, a Technical Summary was acknowledged by representatives of governments assembled in the Plenary Assembly of the GSP, signaling their appreciation of the many potential uses of the underlying report. Even more comprehensive and inclusive arrangements will be sought in the preparations of further, updated versions.

The report is aimed at scientists, laymen and policy makers alike. It provides in particular an essential benchmark against periodical assessment and reporting of soil functions and overall soil health at global and regional levels. This is of particular relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that the international community pledged to achieve. Indeed, these goals can only be achieved if the crucial natural resources – of which soils is one – are sustainably managed. The main message of this first edition is that, while there is cause for optimism in some regions, the majority of the world’s soil resources are in only fair, poor or very poor condition. Today, 33 percent of land is moderately to highly degraded due to the erosion, salinization, compaction, acidification and chemical pollution of soils. Further loss of productive soils would severely damage food production and food security, amplify food-price volatility, and potentially plunge millions of people into hunger and poverty. But the report also offers evidence that this loss of soil resources and functions can be avoided. Sustainable soil management, using scientific and local knowledge and evidence-based, proven approaches and technologies, can increase nutritious food supply, provide a valuable lever for climate regulation and safeguarding ecosystem services. We can expect that the extensive analytical contents of this report will greatly assist in galvanizing action at all levels towards sustainable soil management, also in line with the recommendations contained in the updated World SoilCharter and as a firm contribution to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We are proud to make this very first edition of the Status of the World’s SoilResources report available for the international community, and reiterate once again our commitment to a world free of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. 

JOSÉ GRAZIANO DA SILVA FAO Director-General.

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