“Soils play a crucial role in maintaining life on Earth. However, they are still often neglected or poorly managed,” said UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, who spoke at the closing of the conference. an international conference under the theme “Rooted in resilience: Discovering the importance of soil in sustainable development”, organized in Agadir by UNESCO and the National Agency for the Development of Oasis Zones and Argan Trees (ANDZOA ).
In this regard, she launched an appeal to the 194 Member States of the Organization to improve the protection and rehabilitation of soils, noting that UNESCO is also undertaking several actions to fill the lack of scientific knowledge in this area. .
“With sixty years of experience in soil sciences, our Organization will help States to advance knowledge and train professionals so that the necessary measures can be taken,” she noted during this meeting which brought together experts and representatives from more than 30 Member States of the Organization.
According to UNESCO, healthy soils are essential for maintaining ecosystems and biodiversity, climate regulation, food production and even water purification. However, according to the World Atlas of Desertification, 75% of them are already degraded, with a direct impact on 3.2 billion people. And if the current trend persists, this rate will reach 90% by 2050.
The debates during this conference resulted in an action plan around three objectives. This involves improving soil protection and rehabilitation, filling the scientific knowledge gap, and strengthening youth and community engagement through education and training programs.
UNESCO has announced that it intends to support its Member States by establishing with its international partners a global soil health index, estimating that it will be a standardized measure to assess and compare the quality of soils across different regions and ecosystems.
It will make it possible to identify trends of degradation or improvement, areas at risk and the effectiveness of management practices.
In addition to this index, UNESCO plans to implement a pilot initiative for the evaluation and sustainable management of soils and landscapes in around ten biosphere reserves, with the dual challenge of ensuring the effectiveness of different sustainable management methods implemented in these sites and to promote best practices.
Managers of these sites will be encouraged to develop exemplary soil conservation and land management projects which can then be replicated elsewhere. Training will be provided to them, as well as members of government agencies, conservation organizations and indigenous communities, to give them the maximum tools to protect this essential resource.
In addition, this initiative will include an educational component through which UNESCO will raise awareness and involve younger generations.
2024-10-01 10:31:36