The Treasure Beneath Our Feet

If you were asked to name the world’s greatest treasure, what would you say? Would you name a place of historical significance, a natural or cultural site, or a priceless object?

Beneath our feet lies a priceless treasure and one of the most underrated resources on our planet—soil.

Soil supports a host of organisms and carries out many functions essential for all life on Earth. However, around 33% of global soils are degraded. Globally, we lose 50,000 square kilometres of soil, an area the size of a country like Costa Rica, every year. In addition, our growing global population may exceed nine billion people by 2050. With available fertile soil reducing, how will farmers grow enough food for everyone?

Why do we continue to treat soil like dirt?

Every year on 5 December we celebrate World Soil Day to highlight how important healthy soil is for our planet and raise awareness about the sustainable management of soil resources. In this edition of Nature Nuggets, let’s dig deep into soil and uncover how much we depend on this overlooked treasure.

Soil is a reservoir of biodiversity. More than 25% of the world’s biodiversity is found in soil. Did you know that a tablespoon of soil contains more organisms than there are people on Earth? We have so far identified only a tiny fraction of these organisms. Yet, soil organisms—bacteria, fungi, protozoa, insects, worms such as earthworms, and more—carry out vital functions that benefit everyone.

Here are some more facts about soil that you might not know.

1. Soil is a non-renewable natural resource. It can take hundreds to thousands of years for natural processes to create one centimetre of mature soil. But if the soil is removed or is destroyed by poor agricultural practices or extreme weather, it will not regenerate within our lifetime.

2. Around 95% of our food is directly or indirectly produced in soils. Isn’t that amazing?

Soil is the Earth’s natural water filter. It filters out impurities such as pollutants as the water seeps through the soil.

3. Soil can store large amounts of water. This helps us grow crops and makes land capable of withstanding floods and droughts.

4. Soil stores more than double the carbon stored by all plants on Earth combined. Healthy soil helps us fight climate change!

5. Because soil forms so slowly, we need to protect what we have. Let's pledge to be champions who fight for soil and not let its potential turn to dust.