Threats to Soil and How We Can Protect It
Soil is a finite and fragile resource that faces a range of threats to its ability to sustain ecosystems and human life. Urban expansion, intensive agriculture, construction and pollution can compact, seal or contaminate soil, reducing its fertility, water retention and biodiversity. Without careful management, these impacts can result in long-term degradation that is difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.
In cities, the sealing of soil under asphalt and concrete prevents water infiltration and reduces the available space for vegetation. Construction machinery can compact the soil, damaging its structure and limiting root growth, while also disrupting microbial communities. On the other hand, in agriculture,practices like intensive tillage, the farming of monocultures and the overuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides can diminish soil organic matter, infiltrate into ground water aggravate topsoil erosion and reduce farmland biodiversity. Moreover,pollution from industrial or urban sources exacerbates these problems further by introducing harmful chemicals that accumulate in soil layers and affect ecosystem health. A recent EU-wide study found that over 40 million hectares of arable land in the EU and UK are vulnerable to erosion caused by wind, water or tillage.
SPADES pilots are beginning to examine many ways in which soil can be protected and managed, even in challenging contexts. Initial observations focus on strategies to minimise disturbance (the alteration of a soil's physical, chemical, or biological properties by human activities), such as careful construction planning, the use of soil-friendly machinery and the maintenance of vegetation cover during development. In agriculture, these strategies include crop rotation, the use of organic fertilizers, and other agronomy practices like reduced tillage, all of which are designed to sustain soil health and productivity. Research shows that incorporating organic fertilisation into crop rotations involving perennial crops can significantly boost soil biodiversity and increase soil carbon storage.
There are also innovative approaches emerging in urban agriculture. Green roofs, permeable pavements and urban gardens help to counter soil sealing, support biodiversity and improve water regulation and buffer cities higher temperatures. Social initiatives, like community gardens, and participatory planning also play a vital part in encouraging local stakeholders to prioritise soil protection.
In order to understand and address soil threats, collaboration is required between all the relevant stakeholders: planners, developers, farmers and policymakers because healthy soils are essential not only for the environment, but also for resilient cities, productive agriculture and sustainable landscapes.
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