Ecosystem Soil. Bringing nature-based solutions on climate change and biodiversity conservation down to earth

Summary

Interest in nature-based solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change has never been greater. But something very important is often overlooked in discussions about such solutions: the role of healthy soils. As habitats for plants and animals, regulators of climate and water, and the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems and most of our food production, soils are critical to all ecosystem services - including those on which human survival depends.
Yet the health of soils is at risk in many parts of the world, depleted by decades of industrial agriculture and soil degradation, and further threatened by climate change. One-third of the Earth's soil is already degraded. Some 3 billion people live on this degraded land. At the same time, healthy soils can increase resilience to climate shocks and enhance biodiversity both above and below ground, making them a critical element of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies and practices, biodiversity conservation, water resources management, and sustainable development.
This guide aims to demonstrate the importance of Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) for climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and achieving long-term food security. By adopting nature-based solutions such as ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), farmers can dramatically increase productivity while adapting to climate risks.