Why are soils important?

Soils are a key enabling resource for human well-being, central to the creation of a host of products and essential ecosystem services:

• Soils are the basis for the production of food, fibers, fuel and medicinal product

• Soils absorb, store, alter, purify and release water, both for plant growth and water supply

• Soils interact with the atmosphere through absorption and emission of gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor) and dust

• Soils make up the greatest pool of terrestrial organic carbon (over double the organic carbon stored in vegetation)

• Soils regulate carbon, oxygen and plant nutrient cycles (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, etc.)

• Soil is the habitat of several animals and organisms such as bacteria and fungi and thus sustain biological activity, diversity and productivity

• Soil is the habitat for seed dispersion and dissemination of the gene pool

• Soils buffer, filter and moderate the hydrological cycle

• Soils are the platform for urban settlement and are used as materials for construction