This month saw the annual celebration of an important event in the ecological calendar: World Soil Day. This is a way to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.

We know the role trees and plants play in reducing the impact of climate change and biodiversity loss through the delivery of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, urban cooling, flood mitigation and provision of habitats for wildlife.

However, as Adam Ralph, Biodiversity and Strategic Project Director for Greenbelt, points out, we are less aware of soil’s critical role in the fight against climate change and the biodiversity loss crisis.

“Soil is a living ecosystem full of microorganisms, insects and worms that break down organic matter, turning it into nutrients vital for establishing biodiversity and habitats and supporting the growth of trees, plants and food crops,” Adam says.

“It holds and filters pollution and contaminants from water and is also the largest store of terrestrial carbon on earth, storing nearly twice as much carbon as all the plants and atmosphere combined! 

“Soil degradation is a huge issue in construction and development, and we must improve how we manage this natural resource. Poor management doesn't just have an economic impact but affects the soil's potential to deliver multifunctional ecosystem services, leading to the release of carbon into the atmosphere, river pollution, waterways contamination, and habitat loss.

“Organisations such as the Soils in Construction and Planning Task Force are raising awareness and putting soil firmly on the agenda. They recently published ‘Building on soil sustainability: Principles for soils in planning and construction’ and are launching regional events that will provide valuable insights into the importance of soil and how the planning and construction sectors can make a difference in its sustainable use. 

You can find out more about Greenbelt’s work in biodiversity and sustainability here.