Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
important, but needs to be further detailed in order to make it applicable and
understandable by all stakeholders and decision makers. There are differences
between urban expansion on bare deserts, as, for example, in some of the countries
in the Gulf of Persia area (Dubai, Doha, etc…), and the rapid urban expansion on
prime fertile soils of the Loess Plateau of China. We need to distinguish between
soil properties and the related functions that these soils can perform for us. A
target of ''zero net soil degradation'' needs to be seen in relation to the functions
certain soils perform. Soils with the primary function of food production, like the
highly fertile Chernozems, need to be preserved for that function; therefore, we
should aim towards a target of ''zero net soil fertility loss'' when we address the
issue of maintaining the necessary food-producing capacity on planet Earth. In the
same manner we need to target ''zero net carbon loss'' if we address the
fundamental function of soils to act as a carbon sink, thus mitigating climate
change. Setting clear targets will therefore require a clear classification of the
various soil types according to their main functions and the ecosystem services they
deliver. A first attempt at such a re-definition of soil quality is on-going
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and will
lead to a newly defined composite indicator, allowing for the clear and measurable
assessment of the global target of ''zero net soil degradation''.
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5 Conclusions
A green economy and improved governance for sustainable development
should be the main outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference in 2012. The role of
soil resources in this context has been well recognised by stakeholders and
policymakers. The proposed Global Soil Partnership should provide the future
framework for the sustainable use of soil resources for food security and
climate change adaptation and mitigation. After several failed attempts in the
past, this might be the right moment for an effective step towards soil
protection in the world, hopefully delivering the necessary improvement of our
environment and of livelihoods, especially in developing countries. Lastly, the
fight against land and soil degradation should be part of potential sustainable
development goals (SGDs), were they to be agreed at the Conference. This
should include setting out a clear path towards minimising land and soil
degradation, and it should take into account key processes such as erosion, the
loss of soil organic matter, and the disappearance of productive land through
urban sprawl.
References
1. WCED, Our Common Future, Oxford University Press, 1987.
2. United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision, United
Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), New York,
2011.
3. European
Commission,
Roadmap
to
a
Resource
Efficient
Europe,
COM(2011) 571, Brussels, 2011.
