Our soils fulfill essential tasks, in the truest sense of the word: They provide us with food, store water and nutrients and are the habitat for a quarter of all biodiversity on earth. And there is also a complex relationship between soil and climate, as climate changes have an impact on the soil and soil conditions influence our climate. Furthermore, soils store an enormous amount of carbon, making them the second largest store of greenhouse gases on earth after the oceans. Intact, healthy and fertile soils are important resources that are vital for our survival.
Why are our soils currently at risk?
Our soil is increasingly endangered worldwide. According to the UN Environment Program, a quarter of the world’s agricultural land is already severely degraded. The reason for the deterioration in soil quality – known as soil degradation – is the intensive use of soils in agriculture. Examples of this include incorrect irrigation, too little fallow land, many monocultures, the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides and overuse of the land. In addition, deforestation and the construction of buildings, roads and other infrastructure projects on valuable green spaces contribute to the destruction of soils.
What are the consequences of the destruction of our soils?
Huge areas of fertile soil are lost every year due to global soil degradation. According to the WWF, our soil is currently being destroyed “around 20 times faster than it grows back.” Humus, the fertile top layer of soil, plays a key role in our climate. But healthy humus is currently disappearing in large quantities, releasing vast amounts of climate-damaging gases into the atmosphere. Around 25 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by agriculture alone.
The destruction of our soils is already having a serious impact: Floods are increasing, as compacted and built-up soils can absorb little or no water. In addition, water shortages and droughts are threatening to increase in many regions of the world, as soils no longer have a water storage function. Soil loss also has long-term consequences for animals, as their homes are destroyed by deforestation or their habitats are fragmented by new roads. Last but not least, our food security is also at risk, as agricultural land is destroyed by construction. This development means that more and more food has to be imported from abroad. The ongoing concreting of our soils is also exacerbating climate change because the cooling effect of evaporation is disappearing. In cities in particular, heatwaves are becoming an increasing health risk for large sections of the population.
Soil protection for a future worth living
What happens at a political level
As part of the Green Deal, there is currently the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, which provides for various measures for the protection, sustainable use and restoration of soils. The topics of circular economy, sustainable soil management, the restoration of degraded soils and the prevention of desertification are particularly crucial for the sustainable protection of our soils. The EU Restoration Act recently adopted in June 2024 is currently an important step towards improving and restoring already degraded ecosystems across Europe.
What you can do in your garden
A lot can be done to protect soils sustainably, not only at a political level, but also at an individual level and in everyday life. For people who own or cultivate a garden, there are a number of measures that can be implemented over the course of a gardening year. For example, you can help protect the soil yourself by simply leaving leaves and other dead plant material lying around. On the one hand, this provides an excellent shelter for countless soil inhabitants and, on the other, small soil organisms decompose the dead organic material and turn it into valuable humus. Instead of using a leaf vacuum or blower, a broom or rake is also a wonderful soil-friendly alternative. In addition to creating a flower meadow and using peat-free potting soil and sustainable fertilizer, you can also make your patio greener. If you also choose the right plants and opt for robust, site-adapted species, you have already taken many steps towards protecting the soil. Especially in cities, any natural soil surface promotes a better and healthier microclimate.
What you can easily implement in everyday life
If we want to protect our soils in everyday life, then careful and conscious handling of food is particularly important. Buying regional, seasonal and organically produced food is an important contribution to soil protection and improving soil quality. In addition, growing legumes and eating vegetable protein, such as peas, beans or lentils, promotes soil fertility. To avoid food waste, you can use platforms such as foodsharing and network with other food savers across Europe.