Global Environmental Outlook (Geo-6) Regional Assessment for Africa, which
reports that blanket fertilizer application without assessing the soil needs produces
negative results,
7 with countries such as Ethiopia embarking on soil fertility mapping
to determine the appropriate type of fertilizer for a particular soil type in order to
mitigate against the inappropriate use of fertilizer.
8 The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda affirms the importance of proper management of soils. This is evident,
for instance, in SDG 3.9 which aims, by 2030, to substantially reduce the number of
deaths and illnesses from soil pollution and contamination. SDG 12.4 also aims to
substantially reduce the release of chemicals and their wastes into soil in order to
minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
In this context, UNEA-3 Resolution 3/6 observed that contamination of soil is
hampering the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goals
including Goals 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 13 and 15.”
9 In a nutshell, these SDGs concern the
following global goals:
a) SDG 1 aims to end poverty in all its forms everywhere.
b) SDG 2—aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and
promote sustainable agriculture
c) SDG 3—aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
d) SDG 6—aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all
e) SDG 12—aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
f) SDG 13—calls on countries to take urgent action to combat climate change and
its impacts
g) SDG 15—calls for action to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of
terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and
halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
The sustainable management of soil is therefore critical, as from the foregoing
discussions, the health of soils impacts up to seven of the SDGs directly. The
attainment of sustainable soil management is the theme this chapter, and it is
identified by the revised World Soil Charter, as one if its principles, as follows:
Sustainable management of global soil resources is critical to meeting increased societal
demands in a responsible manner. Soil management is sustainable if the supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services provided by soil are maintained or enhanced
without significantly impairing the soil functions that enable those services.
10
Based on the foregoing, sustainable soil management is concerned with ensuring
there is a balance between the supporting and provisioning services for plant
7 UNEP (2016) GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Africa, p. 39.
8 UNEP (2016) GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Africa, p. 39.
9 UNEA (2017) Managing soil pollution to achieve sustainable development - UNEP/EA.3/
Res.6, p. 1.
10 FAO (2015) Revised World Soil Charter, Preamble.
16
R. Kibugi
reports that blanket fertilizer application without assessing the soil needs produces
negative results,
7 with countries such as Ethiopia embarking on soil fertility mapping
to determine the appropriate type of fertilizer for a particular soil type in order to
mitigate against the inappropriate use of fertilizer.
8 The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda affirms the importance of proper management of soils. This is evident,
for instance, in SDG 3.9 which aims, by 2030, to substantially reduce the number of
deaths and illnesses from soil pollution and contamination. SDG 12.4 also aims to
substantially reduce the release of chemicals and their wastes into soil in order to
minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
In this context, UNEA-3 Resolution 3/6 observed that contamination of soil is
hampering the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goals
including Goals 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 13 and 15.”
9 In a nutshell, these SDGs concern the
following global goals:
a) SDG 1 aims to end poverty in all its forms everywhere.
b) SDG 2—aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and
promote sustainable agriculture
c) SDG 3—aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
d) SDG 6—aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all
e) SDG 12—aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
f) SDG 13—calls on countries to take urgent action to combat climate change and
its impacts
g) SDG 15—calls for action to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of
terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and
halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
The sustainable management of soil is therefore critical, as from the foregoing
discussions, the health of soils impacts up to seven of the SDGs directly. The
attainment of sustainable soil management is the theme this chapter, and it is
identified by the revised World Soil Charter, as one if its principles, as follows:
Sustainable management of global soil resources is critical to meeting increased societal
demands in a responsible manner. Soil management is sustainable if the supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services provided by soil are maintained or enhanced
without significantly impairing the soil functions that enable those services.
10
Based on the foregoing, sustainable soil management is concerned with ensuring
there is a balance between the supporting and provisioning services for plant
7 UNEP (2016) GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Africa, p. 39.
8 UNEP (2016) GEO-6 Regional Assessment for Africa, p. 39.
9 UNEA (2017) Managing soil pollution to achieve sustainable development - UNEP/EA.3/
Res.6, p. 1.
10 FAO (2015) Revised World Soil Charter, Preamble.
16
R. Kibugi