Celebrating the international decade of Soils

Soil is a finite natural resource. On a human time scale, it is non-renewable. However, despite the essential role that soil plays for human livelihoods, there is increasing degradation of soil resources worldwide. The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), in 2002, made a resolution proposing the 5th of December as World Soil Day to celebrate the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to human wellbeing. This year, World Soils Day will be held on Tuesday the 5th of December 2023.

Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand and within the framework of the “Global Soil Partnership”, FAO has supported the formal establishment of World Soils Day as a global awareness raising platform. The FAO conference, in June 2013, unanimously endorsed World Soils Day and requested official adoption at the 68^th UN General Assembly.

 The Global Soil Partnership (GSP) created the Regional Soil Partnership (RSP) for the Latin American and Caribbean countries. The RSP working through focal points, Governments, FAO, and private stakeholders has suggested the recognition of this activity, and hopes through the Soils Science Associations, many of the sustainable land management goals may be collectively obtained.

This World Soils Day activity seeks to promote awareness of sustainable soil management and stimulate networking among interested groups of soil users. As this is St. Lucia’s first event, it is a very small one aiming for the attendance of 40 people from the Department of Agriculture, Sir Arthur Lewis Community college, and some farmer’s organizations from the various agricultural regions. Hopefully in the years to come, we may be able to increase the range of activities over a longer time period, and therefore target a bigger population, especially among famers, students and professionals who deal with some aspects of soil management in their work. This event is also in line with some of the articles of our national land policy, the soil Fertility Mapping Project, the banana productivity improvement project, Organic carbon mapping initiative, and National Land Bank initiative, and can help to put St. Lucia on the map for sustainable soil activities, as well as impact the ability of our people to sustainably manage land and soils to meet our objectives without compromising our future use of this valuable non-renewable resource.

World Soil Day 2023: Soil and water, a source of life

Our planet’s survival depends on the precious link between soil and water. Over 95 percent of our food originates from these two fundamental resources. Soil water, vital for nutrient absorption by plants, binds our ecosystems together. This symbiotic relationship is the foundation of our agricultural systems.

However, in the face of climate change and human activity, our soils are being degraded, putting excessive pressure on our water resources. Erosion disrupts the natural balance, reducing water infiltration and availability for all forms of life. Sustainable soil management practices, such as minimum tillage, crop rotation, organic matter addition, and cover cropping, improve soil health, reduce erosion and pollution, and enhance water infiltration and storage. These practices also preserve soil biodiversity, improve fertility, and contribute to carbon sequestration, playing a crucial role in the fight against climate change.

The World Soil Day 2023 (WSD) and its campaign aim to raise awareness on the importance and relationship between soil and water in achieving sustainable and resilient agrifood systems. WSD is a unique global platform that not only celebrates soils but also empowers and engages citizens around the world to improve soil health