Although the importance of soil may seem obvious, it has long been treated as an unlimited resource for providing ecosystem services to humanity. As a result, soil use and management have not received the attention they deserve. There is also an urgent need to raise public awareness about the critical role of soil, particularly in the areas of protection and sustainable use. In response to these challenges, the Global Soil Partnership was established as a mechanism in December 2012. It aims to build strong partnerships among land users, policymakers, and various stakeholders to strengthen soil governance and promote sustainable soil management.
Since its creation, the Partnership has become an essential platform for discussing and addressing global soil issues. Several key achievements already demonstrate its importance in filling the gap and advancing soil sustainability. These include the establishment of an Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, the launch of United Nations World Soil Day (December 5) and the International Year of Soils (2015), the preparation of a revised version of the World Soil Charter, and the publication of the report on the Status of the World’s Soil Resources. Additionally, the Partnership has facilitated the creation of regional soil partnerships, supported the development of digital soil maps for developing countries, developed voluntary guidelines for sustainable soil management, and helped establish national soil information systems.
