Since its establishment, the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) has been actively working on different global soil issues as requested by the Global Soil Partnership partners and the global soils community. One of the main ITPS outputs will be the periodical preparation of the “Status of World's Soil Resources Report”.

Today is a memorable day for the global soil science community as the 68th United Nations General Assembly has designated 5th of December as World Soil Day and declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils (resolution) !

Soil is a finite natural resource. On a human time-scale it is non-renewable. However, despite the essential role that soil plays for human livelihoods, worldwide there is increasing degradation of soil resources

In accordance with the ToRs and Rules of Procedure of the GSP, and as specifically recommended by the first GSP Plenary Assembly, the Secretariat has sought to support partners towards the establishment of active Regional Soil Partnerships.

Considering the urgency of addressing crucial global soil issues, the recently established Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils held its first working session from 22 to26 July 2013 at FAO HQ.

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ITPS report