International Year of Soil

The International Year of Soils, 2015 (IYS 2015) was declared by the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly on December 20th, 2013 after recognizing December 5th as World Soil Day.[1][2]

The purpose of the IYS was to raise awareness worldwide of the importance of soils for food security,[3] agriculture,[4] as well as in mitigation of climate change, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development.[5]

World Soil Day

The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) and the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) have invited the public to continue to celebrate World Soil Day on the 5th of December on an ongoing basis.[6]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has implemented the hashtag, #WorldSoilDay, and a campaign "Stop soil erosion, Save our future,"[7] with suggestions for activities by students, farmers, teachers, NGOs and private sector organizations.[8]

A map of International World Soil Day events is available online, as well as a list of yearly World Soil Day campaigns, a poster with World Soil Day Activities from the FAO, educational materials, and a downloadable coloring book for children.

The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History celebrated World Soil Day 2019 with hands-on activities, and a panel discussion by soil scientists and local farmers.[9]

TreeHugger commemorated World Soil Day 2019 with a feature article explaining how soil is "the foundation of ... of green building, the plants that make the materials ... to minimize our upfront carbon emissions."[10] Members of the public are urged to commemorate the day with efforts to reduce food waste, eat a diverse diet, compost, read labels on lawn and garden products, and perform soil tests.[6]

International Year of Soils, 2015

The Global Soil Partnership planned a website, logo and activities for The International Year of Soil, and agricultural and environmental organizations around the world held local events to contribute to the special year.[11][12][13]

The United States Department of Agriculture held a kick-off event.[14] Its National Resources Conservation Service commemorated the event with monthly themes.[15]

OpenLearn Open University featured its courses on soil.[16]

Kansas State University hosted an event in Manhattan, Kansas to celebrate the International Year of Soils, and kick off the 12th International Phytotechnologies Conference.[17]

Vivekananda College hosted a two day Vivekananda Science Exhibition to Rural Masses (VISETORM-VIII) for rural schoolchildren.[18]

The 2015 Ethiopia Society of Soils Science (ESSS) Conference chose the theme of “International Year of Soils: Ethiopia Experience." Representatives from the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Ethiopian Society of Soil Science celebrated World Soil Day at the end of conference.[19]

Other events included Sundays with Science lectures at the San Francisco Public Library and University of Nebraska State Museum, exhibits, events for teachers, and a Microbes Are Us Costume Parade by Hawaiian schoolchildren.[18]

The FAO website summarized what individuals could take home from the year as:

  • A deep and newfound appreciation for our soils,
  • A wealth of information material, and
  • Friends, partnerships and linkages,
  • as well a personal discovery by one of the organizers:

"On a closing note, just the other day a member of the IYS Steering Comittee [sic] told members that he recently found out that soils contain a bacterium called mycobacterium vaccae, also known as the Golden Bacillus. Apparently, scientists have found that, when ingested or inhaled, this substance reduces anxiety and increases levels of serotonin in the brain, making you happier."[20]

Official closure of the 2015 International Year of Soils (IYS) took place at FAO Headquarters on 4 December, 2015.[21]

International Decade of Soils, 2015-2024

The International Union of Soil Scientists has proclaimed 2015-2024 the International Decade of Soils. This is a continuation of the efforts made during the International Year of the Soils 2015.[22]

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References
  1. Lindbo, David. "The International Year of Soils". Soil Science Society of America. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  2. "Year ahead will be a good time to focus on soil's importance". Winnipeg Free Press.
  3. "Draft resolution submitted by the Vice-Chair of the Committee, Ms. Farrah Brown (Jamaica), on the basis of informal consultations on draft resolution A/C.2/68/L.21" (PDF). United Nations General Assembly. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  4. "Year-long salute to soil underscores need to focus on its health". Creston News Advertiser.
  5. "Sustainability starts with the soil". Register-Star.
  6. Breyer, Melissa (December 4, 2019). "5 things everyone can do to protect the planet's soil". TreeHugger. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  7. "World Soil Day, December 5th". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  8. "Get involved - World Soil Day 2019" (PDF). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  9. "Events". University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  10. "On World Soil Day, a look at how we should be growing buildings". TreeHugger. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  11. "Cedar Creek Partnership Project supports International Year of Soil". Otumwa Courier Online.
  12. "Soil Association goes back to its roots with soil campaign" Archived 2015-01-16 at the Wayback Machine. Farmers Guardian.
  13. "Tree planting launches international year of Soil". Lancaster University.
  14. "Event at USDA Ushers in 2015 as the International Year of Soils". www.usda.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  15. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Florida. "International Year of Soils". Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  16. "International Year of Soils". OpenLearn. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  17. Allen, Katie (September 28, 2015). "The International Year of Soils: Soils Protect the Natural Environment". Kansas State University Research and Extension. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  18. "Activities and Events - See what everyone did for IYS!". Soil Science Society of America. 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  19. "World Soil Day celebrated in Ethiopia". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  20. "After the International Year of Soils, we won't take soils for granted anymore". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  21. "Official closure of the 2015 International Year of Soils". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2015-11-30. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  22. "The International Year of Soils". Soil Science Society of America. 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-08.

See also
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