Conserving healthy soils
What is the issue? – Why is it important? – What can be done?
- The health of soils is dependent on the variety of organisms they contain, known as soil biodiversity.
- The amount of soil biodiversity determines the productivity of land, and thus the provision of food, water, and the regulation of climate.
- Current land degradation, chiefly due to chemical-fuelled, intensive agricultural production, is causing the loss of soil biodiversity, undermining the services provided by healthy soils.
- Governments should put in place policies and legislation, and promote land management practices which restore or preserve soil biodiversity.
