Soil biodiversity: a foundation for life on Earth

Soils are among the largest reservoirs of biodiversity on Earth, hosting an estimated 59% of global biodiversity. Soil organisms provide essential ecosystem services, positioning soil biodiversity as a powerful nature-based solution to global challenges. Despite significant advances in recent years, only around one percent of soil organisms have been formally identified. Meanwhile, soil biodiversity is declining at alarming rates, with losses likely underestimated due to limited data availability. This crisis mirrors the broader biodiversity emergency: species are disappearing at a rate 1,000 times higher than historical baselines, with one million species currently at risk of extinction.

To respond, the Plan of Action 2020–2030 for the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil Biodiversity, adopted at the 2022 Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15), invited the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the Global Soil Partnership (GSP), to establish a global soil biodiversity and ecosystem function monitoring framework. In line with this mandate, the GSP has launched the Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory (GLOSOB), building on the achievements of the GSP and the International Network on Soil Biodiversity (NETSOB).

GLOSOB adopts a country-driven approach: national institutions will measure, monitor, and report on soil biodiversity at agreed sites using harmonized methodologies and protocols developed by the GSP. This framework will enhance knowledge, strengthen national capacities, and support Parties in assessing the impacts of human activities on soil biodiversity and the critical ecosystem services it provides. By generating reliable data, GLOSOB will underpin policy development, promote good practices, and foster collaboration across sectors.

Objectives of the side event

This side event will highlight the crucial yet underrecognized role of soil biodiversity in sustaining ecosystems, human well-being, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Soil organisms—including bacteria, fungi, earthworms, insects, and other fauna—support nutrient cycling, soil fertility, organic matter decomposition, climate regulation, and water purification. Despite this importance, soil biodiversity remains largely absent from the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) indicators, aside from soil organic carbon.

The event aims to:

• Bring together experts from soil science, ecology, agriculture, and policy to share knowledge, identify challenges, and explore opportunities for integrating soil biodiversity into the KMGBF.
• Emphasize the need for globally relevant indicators, comprehensive monitoring, and policies to prevent soil degradation, pollution, and unsustainable land use.
• Foster collaboration across stakeholders to ensure that soil biodiversity is conserved and sustainably used, strengthening ecosystem resilience and supporting global biodiversity targets.

Draft agenda

18:15–18:20

• Opening by Ms Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (TBC)
• Opening by Mr Lifeng Li, Director, Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (TBC)

18:20–18:30

• Keynote Presentation: “Soil Biodiversity at the Core: Unlocking Its Role in the Kunming-Montreal Framework”, Prof. Brajesh Singh, Chair of the International Network on Soil Biodiversity and Member of the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils

18:30–18:45

• The Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory, Ms Natalia Rodriguez Eugenio, Global Soil Partnership Secretariat, FAO, Global Soil Partnership (GSP)

18:45–19:35

Parties’ interventions on progress in the implementation of the Plan of Action 2020–2030 for the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil Biodiversity

• Robin Goffaux, France
• Rayka Hauser, European Union
• Colombia (TBC)
• Armenia (TBC)
• Agustín Harte, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions
• Zoe Lindo, Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (online)
• John Garcia Ulloa, Senior Programme Manager, Biovision Foundation

19:35–19:45

• Conclusions and closure of the event

Moderator: Ms Monica Kobayashi, CBD Secretariat