12-July-2024-Editorial

GLOBAL SOIL DEGRADATION 

Soil degradation poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human well-being globally. Addressing this issue is crucial to sustain food security, biodiversity, and mitigate climate change impacts. 

UNESCO’s Insights on Global Soil Degradation 

Current State of Soil Degradation: 

• Extent: According to UNESCO’s World Atlas of Desertification, 75% of soils are already degraded, directly impacting 3.2 billion people. 

• Projection: The trend indicates that up to 90% of the Earth’s soils could be degraded by 2050 if current practices continue. 

World Soil Health Index: 

• Initiative: UNESCO plans to establish a ‘world soil health index’ in collaboration with international partners. 

• Purpose: This index aims to standardize soil quality measurement globally, identify degradation trends, and prioritize vulnerable areas for improved soil management. 

Pilot Programme for Sustainable Soil Management: 

• Objective: UNESCO will launch a pilot programme focusing on sustainable soil and landscape management. 

• Scope: Ten natural sites supported by UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserves Programme will serve as testing grounds to assess and promote best practices worldwide. 

Training Programs: 

• Target: Member governments, indigenous communities, and conservation organizations. 

• Goal: Equip stakeholders with tools and knowledge for effective soil protection and rehabilitation efforts. 

Understanding Soil Degradation 

Definition: 

• Nature: Soil degradation involves biological, chemical, and physical decline in soil health. 

• Impact: Diminished soil capacity to support ecosystems and provide essential services like nutrient cycling and water filtration. 

Causes: 

• Physical Factors: Erosion due to rainfall, wind, and tillage practices. 

• Biological Factors: Human activities, deforestation, and invasive species affecting soil quality. 

• Chemical Factors: Soil nutrient depletion, salinization, and contamination by pollutants. 

Global Statistics: 

• Extent: Approximately 33% of the world’s soils are moderately to highly degraded. 

• Regional Disparities: Regions with poverty and food insecurity, like Africa, bear a disproportionate burden with 40% of degraded soils located there. 

• Annual Loss: Globally, 12 million hectares of agricultural soils are lost annually due to degradation. 

Case of India: 

• Extent: About 146.8 million hectares, roughly 30% of India’s soil, is classified as degraded. 

• Factors: Losses include soil washed away by rain (29%), transferred from one location to another (61%), and deposited in reservoirs (10%). 

Initiatives Related to Management of Soil 

Global Initiatives 

• Global Soil Partnership (GSP): 

• Purpose: Established by FAO, aims to prioritize soils in global agendas for sustainable management. 

• Focus: Enhancing soil governance, ensuring food security, climate change resilience, and sustainable development. 

• World Soil Day: 

• Objective: Celebrated annually on December 5th to raise awareness about soil health and promote sustainable soil management. 

• Bonn Challenge: 

• Goal: Restore 350 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes globally by 2030, building on the initial milestone of restoring 150 million hectares. 

• Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN): 

• Objective: UNCCD goal to achieve no net loss of healthy and productive land by 2030 through sustainable land management practices. 

• Recarbonization of Agricultural Soils (RECSOIL): 

• Lead: FAO initiative focused on increasing soil organic carbon through sustainable soil management practices. 

Initiatives in India 

Soil Health Management under NMSA: 

• Approach: Promotes soil testing and balanced nutrient application for sustainable agriculture. 

Soil Health Card Scheme: 

• Purpose: Provides farmers with information on soil health, enabling better decision-making for crop management. 

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): 

• Objective: Promotes organic farming through traditional practices to improve soil health and fertility. 

Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme: 

• Focus: Integrates trees into agricultural landscapes to prevent soil erosion and enhance soil fertility. 

Way Forward 

Regenerative Agriculture: 

• Methods: Implement practices like crop rotation, cover cropping, and reduced tillage to restore soil health and biodiversity. 

Biochar and Composting: 

• Application: Use organic amendments to improve soil structure, fertility, and water retention capacity. 

Agroforestry Promotion: 

• Benefits: Integrating trees and shrubs enhances soil fertility and prevents erosion, supporting sustainable agriculture. 

Green Infrastructure: 

• Integration: Incorporate green spaces like urban parks and bioswales to improve soil health and manage water runoff in urban areas. 

Bioremediation and Phytomining: 

• Approaches: Utilize natural processes involving plants and microbes to remediate contaminated soils and recover metal pollutants. 

Conclusion 

Effective soil management is essential for sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. By implementing global and local initiatives, addressing soil degradation can mitigate environmental risks and enhance resilience against climate change impacts.