Europe’s soil crisis deepens as 70% of land struggles to survive
Monday was World Soil Conservation Day, drawing attention to the critical role of soil in combating climate change, floods, and pollution. A recent European Commission report revealed a worrying trend: 60% to 70% of Europe's soils are in poor health.
Soils, often underappreciated, play a vital part in mitigating environmental challenges. They absorb water, exchange gases, and support biodiversity. However, urbanization is taking a toll. In Spain alone, between 2000 and 2018, 600,000 hectares were urbanized, equivalent to eight football fields every hour. This paving over blocks water absorption and disrupts gas exchange.
Soil degradation, accelerated by climate change, pollution, erosion, and compaction, is leading to permanent loss. New soil formation takes thousands to tens of thousands of years. Compaction, for instance, reduces air and water content, decreasing biological activity and mineralization.
Experts urge immediate action. Reversing soil degradation, adopting conservation strategies, and embracing regenerative agriculture practices are key. The future of our ecosystems and human health depends on the health of our soil.
