Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS)

The ITPS have the following functions:

1. Provide scientific and technical advice on global soil issues primarily to the GSP and in relation to specific requests submitted by global or regional institutions.
2. Advocate for the inclusion of sustainable soil management into different development agendas.
3. Review and follow up on the situation and issues related to soils in the contexts of food security, use and management of natural resources, ecosystem services provision, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and other relevant areas.
4. Follow up on the implementation of these Plans of Action with due attention to their impact and contributions to different global policies and initiatives related to sustainable development, MDGs, food security, climate change adaptation and other subject matters.
5. In exceptional cases, when complex technical matters arise, request the Plenary Assembly and the Secretariat to form technical committees aiming to gather specific advice.

The ITPS members have the following duties:

1. Provide scientific and technical advice on global soil issues to the GSP
2. Sign a “non-conflict of interest” declaration
3. Participate at the Plenary Assembly, as stipulated in the ToR of the GSP
4. Appoint a Chairperson by consensus