Study warns that a third of the planet's soils are degraded

A third of the planet's soils are already "moderately to highly degraded," according to a study released this Wednesday by the international movement "Save Soil." The movement calls for "immediate action and a global commitment to prioritize healthy, living soils."

The study “Soil Degradation and Biodiversity Loss” warns that the basis of life on Earth, soil, is in crisis, “threatening the intricate web of life on the planet.”

Based on “extensive research” and eight regional case studies, the report specifies that the main reasons for the 33% of degraded soils are unsustainable agricultural management practices and climate pressures.

According to the movement, "with soil supporting more than 50% of all life, its degradation threatens half of life below the Earth's surface, which poses dramatic risks to all life above the surface."

According to the document's conclusions, almost 40% of Europe's land is used for agriculture, with intensive agricultural practices being one of the main factors in soil and habitat degradation.

Nearly one in 10 bee species in Europe “is threatened with extinction, largely due to these practices, directly impacting pollinators crucial to more than 75% of global food crops.”

Other data indicate that in India, nearly 30% of the total geographic area (about 96.4 million hectares) is experiencing land degradation, and more than a third of biodiversity in the US is at risk of disappearing.

Central Asia faces “alarming rates of agricultural land degradation,” with a combination of deforestation, salinization, and unsustainable practices, and Africa is also “experiencing widespread soil degradation.”

The consequences of this crisis have an impact on agricultural productivity, water regulation, pest control, and even climate regulation, warn the authors of the report, which also highlights the possibility of a shift to more sustainable agricultural management practices.

“Save Soil” is a global movement to defend soil and support regenerative agriculture, supported by various UN structures and working with governments to establish soil health policies.