Global Soil Partnership

• 1. GLOBAL SOIL PARTNERSHIPSally Bunning and Ronald Rojas Vargas Land and Water Division, FAO RomePrepared for the Town Hall Event European Geosciences Union24 April 2012 in Vienna

2. Outline Why are Soils so important? What are the Challenges: past, present and future? Global Soil Partnership Why? Vision and mission Pillars of action Governance Status of its establishment Regional Soil Partnerships How can EGU scientists/members contribute to theGSP? 3. 1. Why are Soils so Important? 4. Why soils?Soils are a complex and strategic resource:Soils are very diverse and formed over generations; there are many soilclasses. The soil properties, health and functions depend on mineral andbiological complexes and are related to climate, terrain and land use. Soilsare the basis for food and agriculture and provide many ecosystemsservices 5. Why Soils? Soils are Finite on a Human Time Scale Worldwide soil is being eroded (carried away by wind and runoff) much faster than it isbeing replenished. In Somalia: an average of 100 tons/ha of topsoil per year is lost(SWALIM, 2009). However, natural soil formation from the mineralisation of rock and breakdownof organic matter into stable humus is a very slow process - to form 2 - 2.5 cm ofsoils, requires approx. 1000 years. 6. Why soils?Soils provide multiple Ecosystem Services(Source: Black,2011) 7. What are the Challenges for Soils:Past, Present and Future? 8. Soil Productivity and Degradation Over some 50 years, world annual production of cereals coarse grains, roots and tubers,pulses and oil crops has grown from 1.8 million tonnes to 4.6 billion tonnes. These huge gains in agricultural production and productivity were often accompanied bynegative effects on agricultures natural resource base (externalities) The land degradation effects are so serious that they jeopardize future productivepotential: soil degradation and loss of biodiversity, salinization of irrigated areas, over-extraction of groundwater, build up of pollutants and pest resistance.. The declining quality of land and water resources available for food, feed, fibre, timber andfuel production has major implications for future food security and sustainable livelihoods. Many of todays soil and crop, livestock and forest management systems are unsustainable: extreme overuse of fertilizer in the EU serious nitrate build up in water resources thatthreatens vast areas. extreme under-use of organic and mineral fertilizer in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa soil nutrients exported with harvested crops are not being replenished, leading to soildegradation and declining yields. 9. Soil degradation status and trends(Global land degradation information system) Soils of varying degradation status (low to high) show increasingdegradation trends (GLADIS, 2011): Water and wind erosion Nutrient and SOM depletion Acidification Salinisation Compaction Contamination 10. CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR MANAGING SOILS- In 50 years the worlds cultivated area has grown by 12%;the irrigated area has doubled; agricultural productionhas grown 2.5 to 3 times, Bthanks to significant increase inyield of major crops.- But, global achievements in production in some regionsare associated with degradation of land and waterresources and deterioration of ecosystem goods andservices.- Towards 2050, rising population and incomes areexpected to call for 70% more food production globally,and up to 100% more in developing countries (relative to2009). Yet, the distribution of land and water resources doesnot favour countries that need to produce more in the future.- The largest share of increased agricultural output will mostlikely come from intensification of production on existingagricultural land. This will require widespread adoption of 11. SYSTEMS AT RISK (SOLAW) B - A series of land and water systems now face the risk of progressive breakdown of their productive capacity (driven by demographic pressure and unsustainable agricultural practices). 12. SYSTEMS AT RISK (SOLAW) B 13. CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR MANAGING SOILS- However, the potential exists to expand productionefficiently to address food security and poverty while Blimiting negative impacts on other ecosystem functions.- Actions include not just technical options but also a set ofenabling conditions to promote sustainable intensificationand reduce production risks/constraints (remove perverseincentives; improve land tenure/access to resources;strengthen land and water institutions and support services-knowledge exchange, adaptive research, etc.)- National budgets and ODA allocated to land and waterneeds to be substantively increased (reverse ve trend)- There is also a need for much more effective integration ofinternational policies and initiatives dealing with land andwater management. 14. NEW FAO PARADIGM FOR AGRICULTURE B 15. NEW FAO PARADIGM FOR AGRICULTURE B 16. FUTURE CHALLENGESGrowing population demands:Healthy soils to increase food production and ensure food security (crop,livestock, forest, fuel), support rural development & reduce poverty.B Diverse farming systems to maintain supporting and regulating servicesand to provide healthy diets & nutrition Actions to reduce post harvest losses and food waste. 17. FUTURE CHALLENGES Growing Water scarcity:Climate change scenarios predict reduction ofrainfall in some semi-arid regions and erratic,unreliable rainfall in many areas.Is much of the water lost as runoff andevaporation (as above)? Or is the soil ready to capture and retain water ( as below)? Soil and vegetation management practices are key to efficient water use in crop, grazing and forest systems 18. FUTURE CHALLENGESClimate change adaptation and mitigation: Under climate change scenarios, the provision of environmental systemsto meet demands of the growing population remains a challenge Soils play a key role in climate change adaptation (resilient, productivefarming systems, efficient use of water) and mitigation (C sequestration;reduced GHG emissions) 19. FUTURE CHALLENGES Soils under increasing PressureDegradation threatens this vital resource; Limited area of fertile soils is under increasing pressure; capacity to continue to increase food production for the growing population is diminishing. Population Urban expansion,growth and Food mining and loss ofsecurity productive landCompetition for Demand on soilswater and waterfor bioenergyscarcityproductionClimate changeSoiladaptation and contamination- mitigation heavy metals, Effects on soil health and soil life (soilwastes biodiversity) and ecosystem functions /services- hidden role of soils 20. 2. Global Soil Partnership 21. Soils situation today: Major concern Soil data - fragmented, partly outdated (fertility, SOC,), heterogeneous-difficult to compare, not easy accessible, not responding to users demands. Soil capacities - increasingly a scarce resource (loss of soil expertise & skills). Soil knowledge & research - fragmented (fertility, CC, ecology), domain of soilscientists, not accessible for use by various disciplines/for decision making,not tailored to address problems/development agendas of today. Awareness & investments in soil management - extremely low compared tothe needs that soil is a precious resources & requires special care from its users. Soil policy: Often perceived as a 2nd-tier priority; lack of internationalgovernance body to support coordinated global action on their management.Need for compatible and coordinated soil policies A unified and authoritativevoice is needed to better coordinate efforts and pool limited resources (foragriculture, forestry, food security, UNCCD, CBD, UNFCCC, disaster & droughtmanagement, land competition, rural & urban land use planning & development). 22. Why a Global Soil Partnership ?A Global soil Partnership (complementing the Global waterpartnership) can bring due recognition and concerted actionwith stakeholders at international, national and local levels toprotect and sustain soil and water resources as the basis forsustainable agriculture and food security.It will provide a platform and intergovernmental mechanismfor updating and sharing knowledge on soils, for developingcapacities of users and technical institutions and providinginformation and evidence for strengthened policies andinvestment programmes. 23. Why a Global Soil Partnership?The GSP was launched by FAO, with the support of EC-JRC, in Sept. 2011 and its Termsof reference are to be endorsed and guided by the Committee on Agriculture in May2012 to: Improve global coordination /governance ofthe worlds soil resources through anintergovernmental mechanism; Put national and regional needs in the centre. Involve local institutions and communities tocreate ownership. Catalyse effective and coordinated soils 200 participants; 100 countriespolicies and investments to guarantee120 organizations; (int./reg./healthy productive soils for food security and national institutes; soil sciencesustained ecosystem services.networks; NGOs; universities research;farmers associations) 24. GSP Vision and Mission The Vision of the GSP is the improvement of the global governance ofthe limited soil resources of the planet in order to guarantee healthy andproductive soils for a food secure world, as well as sustain otherecosystem services on which our livelihoods and societies dependincluding water regulation and supply, climate regulation, biodiversityconservation and other cultural services. The Mission of the GSP is to developcapacities, build on best available science, andfacilitate the exchange of knowledge andtechnologies between stakeholders, forsustainable management of soil resources at alllevels with a view to enhancing food security,protecting ecosystem services, and contributingto poverty alleviation in an era of increasinghuman demands and climate change. 25. GSP Proposed Pillars of Action1. Promote sustainable management of soil resources and improved global governance for soil protection and sustainable productivity;2. Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education awareness and extension in soils;3. Promote targeted soil research and development focusing on identified gaps, priorities and synergies among economic/productive, environmental and social dimensions;4. Enhance the quality and availability of soil data and information: collection, analysis, validation, reporting, monitoring, integration with other disciplines;5. Harmonizeand establishvoluntary guidelines of methods, measurements and indicators for soil protection and sustainable management. 26. Proposed structure of the GSP Open to all governments, relevantstakeholders and organizations. ITPS- 25 high level scientists providingscientific & technical advice to GSP & FAO. (selected and appointed through country representatives to FAO).RSPs are fundamentalSecretariat will implement the GSP through(composed of any type ofRegional Partnerships (hosted at FAO; part of its regional/national bodiesfunding from FAOs regular program).working on soils). 27. Progress in GSP establishment 2. Towards RIO+20 (Unified Soils1. A Technical Working Group (TWG) was side event, June 2012).established (Oct. 2011) to prepare the draft - GSP is included in 1st draft of Finalof the Terms of Reference for theRIO+20 document (support ofestablishment of the GSP. 76 voluntary partners).members worldwide reviewed the working - 2 unified Soil Side events will beversion of ToR and a consolidated version conducted at Rio+20 to position soilswas prepared end Feb. 2012 in discussion at the highest level policy agenda.&d agreement with Regional Chairs of - Under the GSP, FAO is starting thecountry Permanent Reps. to FAO. process for:2 page version TOR prepared for Recognition by UN System of theconsideration / endorsement by COAGWorld Soil Day(May 2012). Implementation of Global Soil Week 2012. Recognition of the International Year of Soils 2015. 28. Progress in GSP establishment3. Networking and Actions to address soils issues in the fieldFAO is funding LOAs with a leading institution in the regions to set up institutionalnetworks as basis of the Regional Soil Partnerships and start a process ofdeveloping soil information systems in which capacity development is priority:Asia: coordinated by Soil Science institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences; 1st meeting -16countries & many institutions Nanjing Communiqu (11 Feb 2012) MENA: coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture Jordan and ICARDA; 1st meeting earlyApril; in addition to an Amman communiqu agreed to develop an FAO TCP project Latin America: coordinated by EMBRAPA, Brazil, & Argentina; 1st meeting 16-20 April2012;. Africa: to be developed in consultation with TSBF-CIAT, ICRAF , Afnet network and otherpartnersThe RSPs will prioritise and implement the GSP plans of actions, whileaddressing local needs with local experts and fostering south-southcooperation and collaboration (e.g. Globalsoilmap.net, Global soil forum etc.) 29. ASIAN SOIL PARTNERSHIPPriorities for Asia (Nanjing, April 2012) to share and transfer knowledge & newtechnology within and beyond the region to provide soil information to all those withinterest in sustainable use of soils and landresources to build consistent and updated Asian soilsinformation systems and start to contributeto global soil information through initiativessuch as GSM to train new generations of experts in soilscience and land management 30. Progress in GSP establishment4. GSP Workshop "Towards Global Soil Information: activities within the GEO Task on Global Soil Data 20-23 March 2012, FAO HQ Rome. The workshop aim was to review the state of the art of tools and techniques for mapping soils at global and regional scales as an input for defining future activities for implementation under the GSP. Soil data/information user demands were also reviewed. 31. Town Hall Event Discussion (Vienna 24 April 2012)How can members of the European Geosciences Union contribute to the GSP? 32. How can EGU members contribute to GSPWe invite soil scientists/ institutes/members of EGU to suggestHow could you contribute to the GSP Pillars for soil protection, sustainablemanagement and food security in the region and globally?What in your view are the main needs and priorities: 1. to promote sustainable soil management (What practices? Where?) 2. to improve soil information & its use (What gaps? How/Where tomonitor/survey? How to integrate with other disciplines?) 3. to enhance investment, technical cooperation, policy, educationawareness and extension in soils (what support?) 4. to promote targeted applied soil research (What gaps and priorityissues in the region? How to address economic, environmental &social impacts?); 5. to develop and promote harmonised guidelines, methods,measurements and indicators (What is needed for sustainable soilmanagement and for soil protection?).