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World Soil Day is celebrated globally, with various events and activities to raise awareness about soil conservation and its sustainable management.
World Soil Day 2024 theme is ‘Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage.’ (Image: Shutterstock)
World Soil Day is celebrated annually on December 5 to highlight the importance of healthy soil. The day serves as a reminder of the critical role soils play in our ecosystem and the need to protect and conserve this invaluable resource for future generations. It also aims to raise awareness about soil degradation. This natural resource is made up of a mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and organisms.
World Soil Day is celebrated globally, with various events and activities to raise awareness about soil conservation and its sustainable management.
World Soil Day 2024 Theme
Every year, World Soil Day is given a special theme that focuses on a particular aspect of soil health and protection. These are carefully chosen to address the current issues and promote sustainable practices. This year, the theme of World Soil Day is “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage.” It emphasises the need for accurate soil data and information to support sustainable soil management.
World Soil Day 2024: History
The day was first recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002, which was supported by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United States (FAO). The day was then established under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership.
Later in 2013, the FAO Conference endorsed the day and urged that World Soil Day be formally adopted at the 68th United Nations General Assembly. The UNGA designated December 5, 2014, as the first World Soil Day.
World Soil Day 2024: Key Facts
- It is estimated that 95% of our food directly or indirectly comes from soil. It provides essential nutrients, water, oxygen and root support for plants to grow and flourish.
- According to Food and Agriculture organisation, 33 percent of the Earth’s soil is already degraded because of factors such as deforestation and mining. It is also estimated that 90 percent could become degraded by 2050.
- It can take up to 1,000 years to produce just 2-3 cm of soil. It is formed through the slow physical, chemical, and biological weathering of bedrock.
- Soil is vital for our existence because it’s a fundamental resource for life on Earth.
- It is made up of layers that include the organic layer, topsoil, subsoil, and bedrock.
- Soil comes in many different colours, including red, brown, yellow, black, and gray.
- Soil is one of our most important weapons in the fight against climate change, as it contains more carbon than the atmosphere and all of the world’s plants and forests combined.
World Soil Day 2024: Quotes
“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.”- Dalai Lama
“Soil is not our property; it has come to us as a legacy, and we must pass it on to future generations.” – Sadhguru
“Soil is a living ecosystem, and is a farmer’s most precious asset. A farmer’s productive capacity is directly related to the health of his or her soil.”- Howard Warren Buffett
“What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action.”- Meister Eckhart
“As a farmer, the man himself became closely attached to the landscape, firmly rooted in the soil that supported him. At times the soil seemed bountiful and kindly and again stubborn and unfriendly, but it was always a challenge to man’s cunning.” – Charles E. Kellogg.