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World Soil Day Celebrations on 5th December: 2018 Theme, Aim, Significance, history
World Soil Day Celebrations on 5th December 2018 Theme, Details, Aim, Significance, History
World Soil Day is celebrated on 5th of December every year by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
World Soil Day aims to communicate messages on the importance of soil quality for food security, healthy ecosystems, and human well-being. It also advocates for sustainable management of soil resources.
World Soil Day theme for the year 2018 is ‘Be the Solution to Soil Pollution’. The theme aims to spread awareness and call people to stop soil pollution.
World Soil Day was first declared by International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) by adopting a resolution proposing in 2002 to celebrate the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to human well-being.
Later in June 2013 FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day and requested official adoption at 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013, 68th UNGA declared 5th of December as the World Soil Day.
Significance of soil
Soil is the upper layer of earth. It is a mixture of organic and inorganic matter, in which plants grow. It is a finite natural resource. On a human time-scale, it is non-renewable. According to FAO, the soil holds three times as much carbon as atmosphere and can help to meet the challenges of a changing climate. 95% of our food comes from soil and 33% of global soils are already degraded.
