Context:
World Soil Day is observed annually on December 5, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to highlight the critical role of soils in sustaining life. The World Soil Day 2024 discourse, with the campaign theme “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities” (2025 theme), emphasizes the growing importance of urban soils amid rapid urbanization, climate change, and environmental stress.
Key Highlights:
Global Urbanization Trends
• Over 56% of the global population currently lives in urban areas, increasing pressure on land, water, and food systems.
• Cities face challenges such as food insecurity, urban flooding, pollution, and extreme heat events.
Role of Urban Soils in Climate Resilience
• Urban soils function as natural sponges, absorbing rainfall and reducing surface runoff.
• Act as carbon sinks, sequestering atmospheric carbon and mitigating climate change.
• Help regulate urban heat islands by absorbing heat and supporting vegetation cover.
Urban Food Security and Well-being
• Urban agriculture (rooftop gardens, community plots, backyard farming) depends on fertile and healthy soils.
• Shortens food supply chains, enhancing local resilience and nutrition security.
• Green spaces with healthy soils promote mental health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, while encouraging physical activity.
Challenges Facing Urban Soils
• Soil degradation due to contamination, compaction, loss of organic matter.
• Soil sealing by concrete and asphalt, preventing natural soil functions.
• Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in peri-urban areas.
Initiatives and Campaign Measures
• FAO’s “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities” campaign promotes:
– Urban soil restoration
– Green infrastructure development
– Urban agriculture expansion
– Soil literacy and community participation
• Policy actions include rehabilitating degraded land, limiting soil sealing, replacing concrete with nature-based solutions, and promoting community gardens.
• Responsible soil management involves native species planting, mulching, reduced chemical inputs, and topsoil protection.
Relevant Prelims Points:
• Issue: Degradation of urban soils due to rapid urbanization and unsustainable land use.
• Causes: Soil sealing, industrial contamination, loss of organic matter, excessive chemicals.
• Government/Global Initiatives: FAO-led World Soil Day, promotion of green infrastructure, urban agriculture policies.
• Benefits: Climate resilience, flood mitigation, food security, carbon sequestration, improved mental health.
• Challenges: Policy neglect of soils, competing urban land demands, lack of soil awareness.
• Impact: Enhanced urban sustainability, resilient cities, healthier populations.
Relevant Mains Points:
• Definitions:
– Urban Soil: Soil within urban ecosystems supporting ecological and human well-being.
– Green Infrastructure: Networks of natural and semi-natural spaces delivering ecosystem services.
– Soil Degradation: Decline in soil quality due to improper use and management.
• Organizations: FAO, UN bodies focusing on sustainable urban development.
• Conceptual Linkages: Climate adaptation, sustainable cities (SDG 11), food security, ecosystem services.
• Way Forward:
– Integrate soil health into urban planning and governance.
– Promote nature-based solutions over grey infrastructure.
– Strengthen community participation and soil literacy.
– Adopt sustainable land-use policies aligned with climate goals.
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
• GS 1: Urban geography, human-environment interaction.
• GS 2: Urban governance, sustainable development policies.
• GS 3: Environment, climate change adaptation, food security, disaster management.