Motion 007

Soils play a critical role in addressing global challenges such as food security, climate change, and biodiversity conservation, supporting an estimated 60% of the world’s biodiversity. They provide essential ecosystem services, including nutrient cycling, water filtration, and carbon sequestration, while underpinning agricultural productivity.

However, soils are not granted the same level of legal protection as water, air, or biodiversity. This lack of comprehensive governance has resulted in fragmented and often unenforceable policies. To address this issue, this resolution advocates for the creation of an international legal framework to ensure the protection and sustainable management of soils, recognizing their pivotal role in environmental and human well-being.

Historical Context and Governance Gaps
Awareness of soil degradation has grown since the 1970s, but policy efforts have been uneven. In Europe, initiatives like the 2006 Soil Thematic Strategy aimed to enhance soil protection, yet political resistance prevented binding regulations. The current review of the Draft EU Soil Monitoring Law illustrates the challenges in securing binding legal instruments for soil protection. At the global level, initiatives led by the FAO’s Global Soil Partnership have been essential for raising awareness but have lacked enforceable mechanisms.

A Comprehensive Rationale
Soil security provides a broad, integrative framework to address the socio-economic and environmental issues caused by soil degradation. It highlights the need for sustainable management of soil resources to support food production, water purification, climate regulation and biodiversity conservation.

Soil security incorporates five key dimensions: capacity (soil inherent properties); condition (soils health and potential for restoration); capital (soils economic value for livelihoods and food systems); connectivity (collaboration among stakeholders to promote effective soil management); and codification (the establishment of legal frameworks to protect and regulate soils). This multidimensional approach elevates soil management to the level of other critical issues such as food and water security, underscoring its importance for global sustainability.

Strategies for Implementation
Implementing this resolution necessitates collaboration between the IUCN WCEL’s Specialist Groups. as well as coordination between IUCN Commissions, international organizations and actors. Harmonized regional laws must strengthen national frameworks and be backed by effective monitoring and enforcement. Additionally, amplifying indigenous and local community voices fosters equity in governance. Aligning soil security efforts with Agenda 2030 will ensure global coherence and mobilize resources for effective action

Conclusion
The absence of a cohesive, enforceable framework for soil protection hampers efforts to tackle global environmental challenges. A dedicated legal instrument for soil security is crucial to streamline fragmented initiatives, improve policy enforcement, and encourage coordinated global action. Recognizing soil security in law will ensure that soils are managed as a vital resource, helping to prevent degradation, support sustainable agriculture, and protect biodiversity. This resolution calls for the integration of soil security principles into governance frameworks, affirming soils as essential for achieving environmental and human sustainability.