By Dr. Jose L. Rubio, the honorary president of WASWAC

The World Soil Day was officially established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), following a proposal by the Kingdom of Thailand, and was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013. Since then, every December 5th, people around the world come together to recognize the vital role that soils play in supporting life on Earth, reminds us of one of the planet’s most essential, yet often overlooked, natural resources, is the soil beneath our feet.

Soil  is a living, breathing ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and people.

Yes, a living system, full of activity and energy. One handful of healthy soil contains more living organisms than there are people on Earth. It’s an entire universe down there, working silently to sustain life above the ground. Because everything begins with it.

Healthy soil means healthy food, clean water, stable climates, and thriving ecosystems. It regulates the Earth’s temperature, stores vast amounts of carbon, and filters the water that sustains us. Without healthy soils, there is no agriculture, no forests, no biodiversity — and ultimately, no life as we know it.

It is the foundation for food production, a critical regulator of climate and water resources, and a key component of the planet’s biodiversity. Healthy soils store carbon, filter water, and provide the nutrients that feed us all.

However, our soils are under increasing pressure from unsustainable land use, pollution, sealing, erosion, climate change, salinization and desertification. Protecting and restoring soil health is therefore not only an environmental priority but also a social and economic necessity.

And if we lose the soil, we lose everything. Without soil, we can't talk about biodiversity, agricultural production, forests, fertile landscapes,…

The World Soil Charter, first adopted in 1981 and revised in 2015, provides a shared framework for nations and institutions to promote the sustainable management and conservation of soil resources. It calls on all of us—governments, farmers, researchers, and citizens—to act responsibly and collaboratively in safeguarding this invaluable natural asset.

The 2025 theme for the World Soil Day, “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities,” will focus on urban soils and the challenges of soil sealing. The event will highlight the role of sustainable soil management in supporting resilient cities, biodiversity, and food security.

The topic is most appropriate and timely. In a few decades 80% of humanity will live in cities. Cities will become one of the most important terrestrial ecosystems for the human population. This trend is a changing paradigm with important implications that offer the opportunity to design friendlier, more resilient, healthy and sustainable cities. In this context, adequate management and conservation of the urban soils are key elements in the functioning of a re-naturalized city. This will require to develop urban-specific soil ecological knowledge and appropriate management-conservation for soil health and productivity.

Urban soils provide a number of important ecosystem services including reduced and delayed storm water and runoff volumes, enhanced groundwater recharge, increased carbon sequestration, urban heat island mitigation, reduced energy demand, improved air quality, additional wildlife habitat and recreational space, improved human health and aesthetical values, opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy, and education, increased land values and are basic for urban agriculture, among others.

Urban soils can be affected by physical degradation, such as compaction and sealing, which reduces their porosity, permeability, and water-holding capacity. This can lead to increased runoff, flooding, and urban heat island effects, as well as reduced soil fertility and biological activity. Furthermore, urban soils can lose their natural diversity and functionality, as they are often disturbed, contaminated, mixed, or replaced by artificial materials.

Urban soils are unique entities that demand expanding the scope of soil-water conservation, restoration and sustainable management to enhance their agro-ecosystem services as well as improve their resilience and adaptation to climate change. Among these measures, nature-based solutions (NBS) should be considered, with strong priority to the biological component of soil, ecological restoration, improvement of biodiversity, mechanical interventions, structures, prevention of contamination and improving of the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil.

The incorporation of new and more ecological perspectives in the management and conservation of urban soils will have a crucial and positive impact on the design, management and viability of the green, friendly and sustainable cities of the future.

As we celebrate World Soil Day, let us remember that the future of our food, our ecosystems, our cities and our planet depends on the health of our soil. By caring for the soil, we care for life itself.

So, on celebrating “World Soil Day”, let’s celebrate the ground that feeds us, shelters us, and connects us. Let’s honor the work of farmers, researchers, and organizations around the world who dedicate their lives to studying and protecting this precious resource.

And most importantly, let’s make a commitment - to take care of the soil, so that future generations can continue to enjoy the richness and beauty of life on this planet.

Because when we take care of the soil, we take care of the Earth.

And when we take care of the Earth, we take care of ourselves.