2015 has been designated the International Year of Soils (IYS) by the UN General Assembly (A/RES/68/232). The IYS aims to be a platform for raising awareness of the importance of soils for food security and essential eco-system functions.
The UN has declared 5 pillars of action:
You can contribute to the International Year of Soils
The Missouri Transect education and outreach participants have developed a “citizen science” project called Missourians Doing Impact Research Together (MO DIRT). MO DIRT will address the interplay between climate and soil that has an impact on global carbon cycling. Citizen scientist volunteers will collect and analyze soil samples and record meteorological information in their communities. The results will be sent to Missouri Transect climate, soil, plant and environmental scientists to enhance real-time data from around the state.
To get involved with MO DIRT or for more information, contact Dr. Terry Woodford-Thomas, tthomas [at] danforthcenter [dot] org" rel="noreferrer">tthomas [at] danforthcenter [dot] org.
World Soil Day Events
To celebrate World Soil Day on December 5 and to launch the International Year of Soils 2015, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held an event at their headquarters in Rome with invited guests — from scientists to diplomats — from around the world.
World Soil Day was celebrated worldwide this year as seen in the map below:
FAO summarized the significance of soil for human and environmental health:
Soil is the basis for food, feed, fuel and fibre production and for services to ecosystems and human well-being. It is the reservoir for at least a quarter of global biodiversity, and therefore requires the same attention as above-ground biodiversity. Soils play a key role in the supply of clean water and resilience to floods and droughts. The largest store of terrestrial carbon is in the soil so that its preservation may contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation. The maintenance or enhancement of global soil resources is essential if humanity’s need for food, water, and energy security is to be met.