World Soil Day

KEEP SOIL ALIVE PROTECT SOIL BIODIVERSITY

World Soil Day (WSD), 5 December is the United Nations Observance that celebrates healthy soils for a food-secure future. This years' campaign "Keep soil alive, Protect soil biodiversity" urges us to focus our attention on the workers belowground - from tiny bacteria to agile millipedes and slimy earthworms - all of which contribute to processes that are indispensable to life on Earth.

These days biodiversity loss is a worry – and soil is also affected. Soil is home to more than 1/4 of our planet's biodiversity. Yet, we only know 1% of this universe. There are more living creatures in a single teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on Earth. Soil organisms are responsible for many critical ecosystem processes, on which humans depend: from supporting plant growth, to storing carbon and being a vast reservoir for pharmaceuticals. But soil biodiversity is under pressure! Unsustainable soil management affects life belowground. Take action to protect soil biodiversity by digging in with us!

Hashtags #SoilBiodiversity #WorldSoilDay

Key messages

Soil is a living resource, home to more than one quarter (25%) of our planet’s biodiversity.
Up to 90% of living organisms live or spent part of their lifecycle in soils, yet we know only 1% of this hidden universe.
Soil organisms work 365/24/7 in a coordinated effort to sustain life on Earth.
Soil biodiversity is an essential component of soil health. Healthy soils produces more nutritious and safer food. 95% of our food comes from soils.
Soils organisms help soils store carbon and reduce GHG emissions.
Soil biodiversity contributes to the remediation of soil pollution by breaking down contaminants.
Soils are vast, vital pharmacies. Did you know that almost all of the antibiotics that we take to help us fight infections were made using soil micro-organisms?

Fun facts

In just 3 inches of soil, there are 13 quadrillion living organisms, weighing 100 million tonnes.
One hectare of soil contains the weight equivalent of two cows of bacteria.
There are more organisms in one gram of healthy soils than there are people on Earth.
An earthworm can digest its own weight in soil every 24 hours. 50% of the planet soil passes through the gut of earthworms each year.
Soil organisms process 25,000 kg of organic matter in a surface area equivalent to a soccer field, which is the weight of 25 cars.

About World Soil Day

World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources.

An international day to celebrate Soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002. Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand and within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership, FAO has supported the formal establishment of WSD as a global awareness raising platform. The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013 the UN General Assembly responded by designating 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.

ink to the A/RES/68/232 Resolution

The date of 5 December for WSD was chosen because it corresponds with the official birthday of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, who officially sanctioned the event.

In 2016 this day was officially recognized in memory and with respect for this beloved monarch who passed away in October 2016 after seven decades as head of state.

2012 to 2016 with links to the related communication toolkits.

Past Campaign

World Soil Day 2019

The Global Soil Partnership dedicated WSD 2019 to the theme "Stop soil erosion, Save our future". It was celebrated in more than 100 countries through 560 events (see WSD 2019 interactive map and official celebrations). A massive amount of articles in major newspapers reached 650 million people. The involvement of high-profile people and household names brought 400 million interactions on social media. Check the post-campaign report: 'WSD 2019: Overview and key results', the NEW video, and the Flickr photogallery.

WSD 2019 communication material | My actions | Challenge | Newsroom

World Soil Day 2018

The Global Soil Partnership dedicated WSD 2018 to the theme "Be the Solution to Soil Pollution". More people than ever took part in the celebrations, conveying the FAO message on the importance of soil quality for food security, healthy ecosystems and human well-being. Four official celebrations and over 300 events in 90 countries marked WSD 2018. See the Photo Gallery and read the Report.

WSD 2018 communication material | My actions | Theme and key messages | FAO press release and Newsroom

World Soil Day 2017

The Global Soil Partnership dedicated WSD 2017 to the theme "Caring for the soils starts from the ground". The Global Soil Organic Carbon map - GSOCmap was launched, and the UNEA3 Resolution on Managing Soil Pollution was adopted by 177 countries. The sixth World Soil Day 2017 photogallery features fun photos of more than 200 events from almost 100 countries. Official celebrations were held in Rome, New York, Nairobi. FAO co-organized events in Santiago and Moscow.

WSD 2017 communication material | Activities | Key messages | Press release

World Soil Day 2016

FAO/GSP dedicated World Soil Day 2016 to the theme "Soils & Pulses: Symbiosis for life", in celebration of the synergy between the International Year of Soils (IYS) 2015 and the International Year of Pulses (IYP) 2016. The book “Soils & Pulses: Symbiosis for life”, presents decision-makers and practitioners with scientific facts and technical recommendations for managing the symbiosis between soils and pulses.

The fifth World Soil Day 2016 Flickr photogallery features fun photos of worldwide events.

Link to WSD 2016 communication material

World Soil Day 2015

FAO was nominated to implement the International Year of Soil (IYS) 2015, within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership and in collaboration with FAO member countries. The theme for World Soil Day 2015 was "Healthy soils for a healthy life".

Special focus was placed on increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions. Soils are a critical component of the natural system and a vital contributor to human wellbeing through its contribution to food, water and energy security and mitigation of biodiversity loss. It was celebrated by the global community of 60 000 soil scientists charged with the responsibility of generating and communicating soil knowledge for the common good of all.

Link to the IYS 2015 website | Link to WSD 2015 communication material

World Soil Day 2014

"The soils community could really contribute to the efforts of food security, hunger eradication, climate change adaptation, poverty reduction and sustainable development"

This is how FAO and the GSP secretariat started their words of welcome during the first official celebration of World Soil Day... Soil specialists, politicians, leading experts, and top officials from all across the globe convened at FAO headquarters to emphasize the importance of soils beyond the soil science community.

Link to WSD 2014 communication material

World Soil Day 2013 & 2012

Recognizing the importance of soils, under the framework of the Global Soil Partnership and with the unanimous support of FAO members, the 37th FAO Conference endorsed 5th December as WSD and requested the UN General Assembly to provide its final endorsement. Since then the soils community has an important opportunity as soils are placed high in global discussions.

Saturday, 5 December 2020