Giving Compass' Take:

• In order to address Sustainable Development Goal 15, there needs to be a concerted effort to implement innovative soil projects that will protect future ecosystems. 

• How can donors identify opportunities to support sustainable land projects and conservation? 

• Learn more about how soil health is the key to environmental and human health. 

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) asserts that “land and soils constitute the foundation for sustainable agricultural development, essential ecosystem functions, and food security. They are key to sustaining life on Earth.” Many of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are closely related to land and soils. Recent research and initiatives undertaken by governments, scientific institutes, and nonprofit organizations are working towards these SDGs through sustainable land management and soil conservation.

SDG 15 is directly related to soil and land and aims to “protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.”

According to the FAO, the current rate of soil degradation is compromising sustainable agriculture, food security, and vital ecosystem services, both now and for future generations. U.N. and government officials are calling for stronger management of the planet’s soils, stating that this critical natural resource could “make or break” climate change response efforts. Food Tank is highlighting innovative soil projects from around the globe that are addressing SDG 15 and building evidence on the benefits of sustainable soil practices:

  • The Biome of Australian Soil Environments (BASE) is the first program to map soil biodiversity at a continental scale. Working with Indigenous Australian custodians and landowners, researchers sampled soils from more than 1,500 sites across Australia and the Antarctic, spanning deserts, agricultural lands, the tropics, alpine regions, and coastal areas.
  • The Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) is a central forum that brings together scientists and policymakers to synthesize data and formulate plans and policies that address the loss and maintenance of soil biodiversity.

Read about the rest of the projects aimed at sustaining soil ecosystems by Eva Perroni at Food Tank.