Soil an irreplaceable resource that needs to be protected
SOIL is most wonderful material. To remain wonderful, it must, of course, be in the right place. If it stays outdoors where it belongs everything is fine. If it gets dragged into the house it suddenly become very unwonderful ‘dirt’, even ‘muck’.
In a world where we are all controlled by ever-increasing layers of rules, regulations and bureaucracy governing all aspects of our lives, it is surprising that there is very little regulation over soil.
Yet, when you think of it, soil is a material that is fundamental to our well-being and future survival. Soil is the material that supports plant growth. It provides the growing medium for the plants that feed us. It supports the plants that the animals that we eat graze on. Our homes, roads and buildings are built on it.
It supports the forests that provide wood. It is the basis of all agriculture, horticulture and gardening. It stores carbon and prevents flooding. The rich earth sustains life and livelihoods around the country.
It soaks up rainwater. Effluents from our waste water treatment plants disappear into it to be thought about no more. It holds groundwater that moves about beneath us.
Soil is also a finite resource, in the short to medium term it is a non-renewable resource. It is, therefore, effectively an irreplaceable resource that needs to be protected.
While a plethora of laws, rules and regulations is in place to protect our air, our water, biodiversity and habitats, there is currently no European Union law protecting soils. As a result, one of our most precious natural resources is under constant threat from pollution, pesticides, intensive farming, erosion, and urbanisation.
The People4Soil campaign, an open network comprising over 400 research institutes, farmer associations and environmental groups across Europe, is calling on the European Commission to enact a soils directive to safeguard European soils for the common good.
The petition is a bottom-up, citizens’ initiative. The European Commission has indicated that if the People4Soil campaign gets one million signatures from seven different Member States of the European Union, that it will consider advancing the preparation of a soils directive.
In Ireland, the Environmental Pillar is heading up the People4Soil coalition. They need at least 8,000 signatures. Google them and click on the People4Soil tab to find out more about the campaign and, if you like what they are doing and want to add your support, complete their online petition to help protect soils.