4 January 2015

2015 will be the International Year of Soils

December 5, 2014 was the first celebrated World Soil Day. It was also the occasion to launch the International Year of Soils (IYS).

The objectives of this IYS are:

1. •‘‘to create full awareness of civil society and decision makers about the fundamental roles of soils for human’s life;
   

2. •to achieve full recognition of the prominent contributions of soils to food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, essential ecosystem services, poverty alleviation and sustainable development;
   

3. •to promote effective policies and actions for the sustainable management and protection of soil resources;
   

4. •to sensitize decision-makers about the need for robust investment in sustainable soil management activities aiming at healthy soils for different land users and population groups;
   

5. •to catalyze initiatives in connection with the SDG process and Post-2015 agenda;
   

6. •to advocate rapid enhancement of capacities and systems for soil information collection and monitoring at all levels (global, regional and national).’’
   

YIS detailed activities and specific messages have yet to be fully developed and it is expected that existing National Soil Sciences Societies will play a key role in the implementation of the year. A plan of action was approved in July 2014 by the Global Soil Partnership and a temporary calendar of events is available that is likely to be further enriched as the year unfolds.

The creation of a World Soil Day and the designation of 2015 as the International Year of Soils is a result of a growing awareness of widespread soils degradation which is impacting on some of the key functions soils have, in particular biomass production, carbon storage and water filtration.

A scoping study prepared for the EU Environment Directorate lists some of the main current threats on soils which are a direct consequence on ways in which soils are being managed and of agricultural technologies used:

1. •Erosion
   

2. •Organic matter decline - Compaction
   

3. •Salinisation
   

4. •Landslides
   

5. •Contamination
   

6. •Sealing
   

7. •Biodiversity decline.
   

Here at hungerexplained.org we hope that activities conducted during this year will generate clear messages on good practices that preserve and improve soils and make them more effective in delivering the vital functions they have.

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For further information

1. -“Healthy soils for a healthy life” - Endorsed plan of action by the Second GSP Plenary Assembly
   

2. -Calendar of events of the International Year of Soils
   

3. -EU scoping study on the International Year of Soils
   

4. -Global Soil Partnership Website
   
   

Last update:    January 2015

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