Why having the Mission Soil Manifesto? wrote:Life on Earth depends on healthy soils. Soil is the living skin of our planet. Healthy soils are indispensable for the provision of food as well as clean water, good air, safe climate, and biodiverse landscapes. Globally, soils store about 80% of the carbon in terrestrial ecosystems, making them the largest terrestrial carbon sink. Soils are fragile, and the impact of our actions on soils are often overlooked or ignored. To ensure a healthy and green future for our current and future generations, we need to protect and care for soils.
Not enough is being done to protect soils from degradation: around 60% of EU soils are currently considered to be in an unhealthy state[1]. Over a quarter of agricultural soils in Europe are eroded, being compacted, suffer from salinisation/alkalinisation and over-fertilisation, or are losing soil carbon. Furthermore, soil pollution is a major concern in urban and industrial areas. Increase in extreme weather events with floods and droughts due to climate change further exacerbates soil degradation. Therefore protecting and regenerating soil health becomes even more urgent.
We need your engagement to care for and restore European soils, and to act on soil protection and enhancement globally, nationally, regionally and most importantly locally. With this Manifesto, we invite you to voice your support to the European Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’[2] (Mission Soil) and its objectives. You will become an active part of a community of practice on soil health.
The Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ wrote:Under the Mission Soil, we are creating shared commitment and a strong community of practice dedicated to soil health. Its goal is to create 100 living labs[3] and lighthouses[4] to lead the transition towards healthy soils. This will drive the recovery of soil health in Europe by linking societal action on soils with research, soil monitoring, communication and engagement efforts as well as evidence-based policies.
The Mission’s goal is substantiated with eight specific objectives, namely: (1) reducing desertification, (2) conserving soil organic carbon stocks, (3) stopping soil sealing and increasing re-use of urban soils, (4) reducing soil pollution and enhancing soil restoration, (5) preventing erosion, (6) improving soil structure to enhance soil biodiversity, (7) reducing the EU global soil footprint, and (8) improving soil literacy in society.
As part of several EU policy strategies, the Mission Soil contributes to the ambitions of the Green Deal and of the Sustainable Development Goals[5]. The Mission also recognizes the importance of international initiatives that mobilise action towards improving soil health globally. This includes the Global Soil Partnership[6], the 4p1000 Initiative[7] and the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health[8].
Who can sign the Manifesto? wrote:You can sign the Manifesto as a representative of a legal entity (such as a municipality, a region, a private or public company or organisation, an education or research institution, an association) to become a Signatory. You can also sign as an individual to become a Friend of the Mission Soil. Neither you nor the entity you represent will have any legally binding obligations. However, by signing the Mission Soil Manifesto or by becoming a Friend of the Mission, you are speaking up for the importance of soil health. You are also joining a community that cares for the future of European and global soils. You take on a symbolic commitment to take action and to contribute to soil health protection and restoration.
[1] European Soil Observatory Dashboard, https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/esdacvie ... dashboard/What is in it for me? wrote:By signing the Mission Soil Manifesto, you will join a vibrant community of soil advocates. You will get first hand access to knowledge on soil health and the Mission Soil, and you will be able to meet with and learn from others. The name of your organisation or authority as a signatory will be publicly visible. This makes it possible for others to become aware of your activities and to connect with you around the topic of soil protection.
Signatories (entities) and Friends of the Mission Soil (individuals) will be more easily connected and able to receive and exchange information through various channels. This will include a Mission newsletter providing information on Mission progress, projects and their results, Mission calls for proposals, events, and policy development. An annual European Mission Soil Fair will stimulate exchanges, sharing of knowledge and experiences among the signatories, participants in Mission Soil projects and other relevant actors, and take stock of the progress made towards the achievement of the Mission Soil objectives. You will have access to the latest information concerning the Mission, its progress, and its activities.
[2] Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe, https://research-and-innovation.ec.euro ... nd-food_en
[3] Places for real-life experimentation, see EU Mission factsheet on Living Labs, https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-law-and- ... aa75ed71a1
[4] Exemplary sites where to showcase good practices
[5] Sustainable Development Goals, https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
[6] Global Soil Partnership, https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/en/
[7] 4p1000 initiative, https://4p1000.org/?lang=en
[8] Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health, https://www.coalitionforsoilhealth.org/
Manifesto wrote:1. Soil is essential for the life of humans and nature. 95% of our food comes from soil. Healthy soils provide us with clean water, good air, sequester carbon thus mitigating and increasing the ability to adapt to climate change, and support biodiversity. Soils also sustain our landscape and cultural heritage and are the basis of our economy and prosperity. We acknowledge that soil is the basis of our well-being. With this Manifesto, we are creating a community that takes care of soils.
2. We need to protect and restore soils. Soils are a fragile resource that needs to be carefully managed and safeguarded for future generations. More than 60% of soils in the EU are considered to be in an unhealthy state due to unsustainable management practices, pollution or sealing. Climate change puts further pressure on soils and accelerate land degradation. All types of soil are concerned. No soil should be left behind.
3. Soil protection and restoration need to be embedded in all human activities that have an impact on land. Protecting and improving soils is crucial to sustain the well-being and prosperity of everyone. We can all contribute to halting soil degradation and building a sustainable future based on healthy soils for food, people, nature and climate. Actions are encouraged at all levels: global, national, regional and local.
4. We support the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (Mission Soil) and its goal to create 100 living labs and lighthouses by 2030 to promote soil protection and restoration in Europe. We also welcome activities under the Mission to address its specific objectives: reduce desertification, conserve soil organic carbon stocks, stop soil sealing and increase the re-use of urban soils, reduce soil pollution and enhance soil restoration, prevent erosion, improve soil structure to enhance soil biodiversity, reduce the EU global soil footprint, and improve soil literacy in society.
5. We are committed and motivated to contribute to the protection and restoration of soil health in our capacity, sector, and territory as this is a fundamental resource for the place where we live and for our well-being. We will contribute to raise awareness on the importance of soil and enlarge the community actively involved in caring for this precious resource.
