Every December 5, World Soil Day is commemorated, an initiative promoted in 2014 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy soils and promoting their sustainable management. This date was chosen in honor of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a prominent advocate of soil sustainability, whose birthday coincides with this commemoration. There is a great variety of soils and each of them is home to a unique wealth of flora and fauna. According to the report “The Factory of Life: Why Soil Biodiversity Is So Important” by the European Commission, soil is home to a quarter of all species on the planet. The life that lives in the soil, from bacteria, fungi, earthworms or small insects to larger animals, such as moles, form an interconnected ecosystem that fulfills vital functions. These organisms participate in essential processes, such as the decomposition of organic matter, the generation of nutrients and the regulation of the carbon cycle, ensuring fundamental services for humanity, such as soil fertility and food production. In this line, this year’s motto is “Caring for soils: measuring, monitoring and managing”, which highlights the need to have accurate information on soils to design effective strategies to guarantee their conservation. This edition invites us to reflect on the role of soil in food production, climate regulation and biodiversity, and reminds us that healthy soil is essential for a healthy planet.

Land degradation: a global challenge

Soil is a limited resource but fundamental for life. According to the FAO, more than 95% of the food we consume depends directly on the soil, which also acts as a key regulator of the climate and habitat for a great diversity of species. However, soil faces threats from pollution, unsustainable human activities, and the impacts of climate change. In addition, every year, an area of soil equivalent to 100 million hectares is degraded, putting global food security, biodiversity and water supply at risk. According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, up to 40% of the world’s entire land surface is already considered degraded, making desertification, land degradation and drought some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. In Spain, about 75% of the territory is classified as dry land, especially vulnerable to deterioration processes. To deal with this crisis, Spain is actively participating in this convention. In 2008, the first National Action Programme against Desertification was developed, while in 2022 a new national strategy focused on curbing land degradation was developed. This framework promotes policies and initiatives aimed at mitigating the advance of the loss of productive soils, achieving neutrality in land degradation and restoring affected areas, thus protecting ecosystems and promoting the economic viability of rural areas. World Soil Day reminds us that protecting this resource is essential not only for food security, but also to ensure climate stability and the sustainability of ecosystems. This year, this event coincides with the United Nations Conference of the Parties on Desertification (COP16), which takes place until 13 December in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). This year not only marks the 30th anniversary of this important environmental treaty, but it is also the first time it has been celebrated in the Middle East. It is one of the three major agreements known as the Rio Conventions, along with those on climate change and biodiversity.