PRECIOUS
EARTH
FROM SOIL AND
WATER CONSERVATION
TO SUSTAINABLE LAND
MANAGEMENT
Published by ISCO
International Soil Conservation Organisation
PRECIOUS EARTH:
Froin Soil and Water Conservation
to Sustairiable Land Management
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABBREVIATIONS
FOREWORD
1 THREATENED EARTH: THE SOILS
Vital facts on soi] and land degradation
1 1 Soil erosion - a persistent crisis
1.2 Desertification - a particular threat to drylands
1.3 Other forms of soil degradation -the pedological dimension
1.4 Soil degradation and society
1.5 Soil degradation and global environmental change
1.6 Evolution of approaches in soil conservation
1.7 Controversial issues in soil degradation
2 FINDING COMMON GROUND
Developing a framework for
sustainable land management
2.1 Building on healthy soil functions
2.2 Shaping converging principles
2.3 Monitoring indicators of soil and land quality
2.4 Initiating action at the local level
2.5 Creating an enabling environment
2.6 Controversial conceptual issues
3 GAINING MOMENTUM
Promoting sustainable land management
3.1 Natural resource management in context
3.2 Initiatives at the national scale
3.3 Regional initiatives
3.4 Global initiatives
3.5 Innovation, experimentation and
monitoring
3.6 Controversy over momentum
4 GENERATING AND DISSEMINATING
KNOWLEDGE
The role of science, local knowledge and
education
4.1 Creating a positive learning environment
4.2 Taking account of local knowledge
4.3 Advancing the science of sustainability
4.4 Integrating knowledge systems
4.5 Controversy over priorities
5 TAKING ACTION
From soil and water conservation to
sustainable land management
5.1 Precious earth: taking action that matters
5.2 Enhancing action-oriented research
5.3 Furthering international and institutional co-operation
NOTES
PHOTOGRAPHS
CONTRIBUTORS