In the framework of Eurosoil 2021 "Connecting People and Soils" to be held from 23 to 27 August 2021, the FAO’s Global Soil Partnership will organize the workshop "Global soil governance: Status and future perspectives" on 25 August 2021 from 11:30 to 13:00 CEST in a virtual format. This event aims to reflect on the work done so far and what still needs to be done to ensure healthy soils for all in the coming years. 

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is one of the main parameters determining soil health. Land uses and management practices that maintain or increase SOC stocks are being recognized as beneficial for climate change mitigation and adaptation, food security and nutrition, Land Degradation Neutrality, and biodiversity conservation. Although many practices are known for maintaining and increasing SOC, responses vary depending on local climate and soil type. Soil management practices should therefore, be selected to suit each specific context. Due to the urgency to unlock the potential of SOC, a Global Symposium on Soil Organic Carbon (GSOC17) was organized in March 2017. The outcome document recommended the preparation of a technical manual that identify, compile and highlight management practices and land use systems that promote the preservation and/or enhancement of SOC stocks. 

The publication “Recarbonizing global soils. A technical manual of recommended management practices” was developed as a response to the GSOC17 Outcome Document. It presents different sustainable soil management (SSM) practices, at different scales and in different contexts, supported by case studies and scientific data that have a positive effect on SOC stocks, as well as successful experiences of SOC sequestration in practical field applications. This technical manual will be launched on 8 September 2021 - the first day of the Ninth Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly.

*SSM: According to FAO’s ITPS, soil management is sustainable if the supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services provided by soil are maintained or enhanced without significantly impairing soil functions that enable those services or biodiversity.

FAO and the Eurasian Centre for Food Security (ECFS) are launching the book "Sustainable soil management in the Eurasian region" (available in Russian). This publication represents the first experience of regional application of the recommendations contained in the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management and its supporting documents.

Download the publication here (soon available)

The International Forum on Black Soil Conservation and Utilization was held in the Jilin Province of the People's Republic of China from 21 to 23 July 2021. Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (MARA) in partnership with the International Network of Black Soils (INBS) of FAO's Global Soil Partnership, among others.

Остановим засоление - увеличим продуктивность почв

20 - 22 октября 2021 | Виртуальный формат | Time: 13.00-16.00 CEST 

Глобальный симпозиум по засоленным почвам (GSAS21) «Остановим засоление увеличим продуктивность почв» будет проходить в виртуальном формате с 20 по 22 октября 2021 года.

Это научно-политическое совещание организовано Глобальным почвенным партнерством (ГПП) ФАО, Межгосударственным техническим советом по почвам (ITPS) совместно с Правительством Республики Узбекистан, Научно-политическим советом Конвенции Организации Объединенных Наций по борьбе с опустыниванием (SPI-UNCCD), Международным союзом наук о почвах (IUSS), Международным центром по биоземледелию на засоленных землях (ICBA), Международной сетью по засоленным почвам (INSAS) и Глобальной рамочной программой по проблемам нехватки воды в сельском хозяйстве (WASAG).

Основная цель Симпозиума - обмен знаниями о предотвращении засоления, регулировании и адаптации, а также установление связей между наукой, практикой и политикой путем содействия обсуждениям между политиками, производителями продуктов питания, учеными и практиками для устойчивого управления засоленными почвами.

Регистрация участников симпозиума будет открыта в ближайшее время. Официальный веб-сайт GSAS21 на шести официальных языках ФАО находится в стадии подготовки и будет доступен в ближайшее время.

The registration to the Symposium is open.

The official GSAS21 website in the six FAO official languages is online:

Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish

Please check the agenda

For any enquiries, please contact:  [email protected].