Unlocking the potential of urban soils, the hidden infrastructure of cities
Paved roads, parking lots, and high-rises are the visible symbols of urban growth. Yet beneath them lies an often-forgotten foundation of city life: soil. When soils are permeable and vegetated, they can play a key role in cities, absorbing rainwater to reduce flood risks, regulating temperature to ease heat islands, storing carbon, and supporting vegetation that improves air quality and provides food. But when soils are sealed under concrete and asphalt, these life-supporting functions are disrupted, leaving cities more vulnerable to floods, overheating, and pollution
It is against this backdrop that the Global Symposium on Soil Sealing and Urban Soils will take place in Pisa, Italy, on 6–7 October 2025. Co-organized by FAO, its Global Soil Partnership, the FAO Green Cities Initiative, and the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) through its SUITMA Commission, the event will bring together scientists, policymakers, and practitioners to rethink the role of soils in shaping healthier, more resilient cities.
“Soil sealing is defined as the permanent covering of the soil surface with impervious materials such as concrete or asphalt, tar seal, and buildings or other structures that cannot be easily removed” FAO and ITPS. 2015. Status of the World’s Soil Resources (SWSR) – Main Report.
Turning sealed ground into living solutions By 2050, it is projected that nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. As demand for space grows, fertile peri-urban land is being lost at unprecedented rates, threatening food security while intensifying the climate and health risks associated with sealed surfaces. Urban areas can lose up to 50% of rainfall as runoff, ten times more than forests, while dark, sealed surfaces create heat islands that raise temperatures and energy demand. But solutions are at hand. Greening measures and restoring soils, reintroducing permeable surfaces, and applying nature-based solutions such as green roofs and composting can transform urban soil challenges into opportunities for resilience. Healthy soils can absorb and filter water, support biodiversity, store carbon, and even provide space for food production and recreation. A hybrid platform for science and policy The symposium, embedded in the 13th SUITMA Conference (5–9 October) and supported by Italy’s National Research Council (CNR–IRET), will feature two FAO-led hybrid sessions, open free of charge to all participants worldwide:
- 6 October | Urban soil management: strategies to maintain healthy soils in cities and strengthen their contribution to food, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
- 7 October | Soil de-sealing and restoration: best practices and policies for unsealing and revitalizing urban soils.
Agenda 👉🏿 https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/gsus25/en Each session will combine keynote presentations with round-table discussions, bringing science into dialogue with real-world policy and planning. Join us Participants can attend both sessions in person in Pisa or online, ensuring broad access for a global audience. For those seeking a deeper dive into the broader SUITMA programme, registration for the full conference is available at www.suitma13.it.
- Register online 👉🏿 https://fao.zoom.us/meeting/register/eWER8DvEQ_Oae0BOT5ERRA#/registration
- Register for in-person participation 👉🏿 https://forms.office.com/e/dcyPFCaMDn
As cities continue to expand, the choices made today will determine whether soils are buried under concrete, or restored as living allies for climate adaptation, food security, and human well-being.