The 12th Plenary Assembly of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) was successfully organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Land and Water Resources Division in collaboration with the GSP Secretariat. It convened representatives from all GSP member countries and organizations either in person or online. During the meeting, participants reviewed the progress and future strategies of the GSP's management entities, major initiatives, programs, regional networks, and technical networks.

Honorary President Professor Li Rui and Professor Jose Luis Rubio attended the meeting on behalf of WASWAC.

Invited by Mr. Li Lifeng, the Director of FAO’s Land and Water Division and Secretary of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP), and as arranged by President Ning Duihu, Professor Li Rui and Dr. Jose Luis Rubio, the honorary presidents of the World Association for Soil and Water Conservation (WASWAC), attended the GSP Plenary Assembly. During the assembly, Dr. Jose Luis Rubio presented a proposal on behalf of WASWAC to establish International Network on Soil and Water Conservation (INSWC) within GSP. The report  contents main include: (1) Brief Introduction of WASWAC; (2) Soil erosion is a serious threat to global ecological security and food security and urgently needs to be controlled; (3) Soil and water conservation in the world has achieved many progresses and experiences, which need to be shared and popularized globally; (4) Therefore, to establish international network on soil and water conservation under the GSP is a wise, urgent and necessary measure.

The main task of the technology network is to raise society's awareness of the importance of soil and water conservation, unite the world's scientific and technological forces to solve major global scientific and technological problems, and provide an international platform for the dissemination and promotion of soil and water conservation technology and experience. Afterwards, some representatives expressed their support to this proposal. Mr. Li Lifeng outlined the background and necessity of the network establishing. The meeting recorded: “ Note the suggestion to establish a technical network for soil and water conservation, which is very clear and distinctive and does not duplicate existing (soil) efforts.”

Dr. Jose Luis Rubio on behalf of WASWAC，proposed to establish International Network on Soil and Water Conservation

Professor Rui Li participates in the discussion of the conference

The establishment of this network will further deepen the connection between our association and FAO, play a greater role in protecting soil resources, maintaining ecological safety and food security, and jointly promoting the scientific progress in the field of soil and water conservation and ecological environment in the world.

About GSP

The Global Soil Partnership was established in December 2012 as a mechanism to develop a strong interactive partnership and enhanced collaboration and synergy of efforts between all stakeholders. From land users through to policy makers, one of the key objectives of the GSP is to improve the governance and promote sustainable management of soils. 

Since its creation, the GSP has become an important partnership where global soil issues are discussed and addressed by multiple stakeholders. Key outputs demonstrate that the partnership was needed to fill an existing gap in the promotion of sustainable soil management.

So far, 7 technical networks have been established within GSP, including: Global Soil Laboratory Network, International Network of Black Soils, International Network on Soil Fertility and Fertilizers, International Network of Salt-affected Soils, International Network of Soil Information Institutions, International Network of Soil Biodiversity, and International Network of Soil Pollution. The International Network on Soil and Water Conservation will be the 8th technical network of GSP.