The world depends on healthy soil, and soil forms the foundation on which our entire ecosystem rests. That’s why we encourage everyone on the planet to observe World Soil Day, a holiday that falls on December 5th every year. This is a holiday that has been observed since 2012 and is one that everyone in the world should take seriously.

The History Of World Soil Day

World Soil Day was first recommended in 2002 by the International Union of Soil Sciences or IUSS. This led to a campaign by the Food & Agriculture Organization, or FAO, that endorsed this holiday in June 2013.

It then went before the 68th UN General Assembly, and in December 2013, they designated December 5, 2014, as the first official World Soil Day. It has been observed on this day ever since. December 5th was chosen because it corresponds with the birthday of the late King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej—an early advocate of this initiative.

The Drivers Of Soil Biodiversity Loss

If you’re wondering about what causes the loss of biodiversity in soil, then allow us to list some of the main causes of soil biodiversity loss. Although the following points aren’t the only ways for soil to lose its biodiversity, they are the leading causes.

• Invasive Species
• Environmental Pollution
• Land Use Change
• Soil Sealing & Urbanization

The Benefits Of Restoring Soil Biodiversity

As we stated in our introduction, soil biodiversity is extremely important to all life on Earth. To drive home this point, we’re going to list some of the benefits obtained from soil biodiversity.

• Water purification
• Climate change mitigation
• Plant growth
• Healthier human populations.

Observing World Soil Day

The best way to observe World Soil Day is by taking the time to learn more about the importance of soil biodiversity and some of the challenges faced in soil management. You can also spread the word about this holiday by using the hashtag #WorldSoilDay on your social media accounts. You can also do your part in preventing soil biodiversity loss. This includes reducing waste and recycling when you can and lowering your carbon footprint.