The Global Soil Partnership (GSP-FAO) of South and Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean met in June to discuss the status of legal and institutional mechanisms governing soil management, conservation and protection among member states. One of the key points arising from this meeting is that Caricom member states lacked national recognition of soil and its role in sustainable development.
Apart from Jamaica, no other country apparently had any laws or policies directed at soil and its management. This deficiency in legal tools across Caricom countries highlights among other issues the importance afforded to natural resource management and notably agriculture which occupies the greatest proportion of non-natural land use.
Although I am critical, it would be inaccurate to paint a picture of total inaction. Caricom under the umbrella of COTED has stated that one of the short term goals in the 2015-2019 community strategic plan is to manage natural resources and the environment in a sustainable manner. This position is shared among member states manifested legally through various laws, policies, regulations and plans.
So why then my particular concern for soils, well, it’s because such instruments do not clearly articulate aspects related to soil use and management compared to other resources, including water, air, forestry, biodiversity and so on. The question lingers, why is soil not treated similarly to all other natural resources? Actually from my perspective I would ask, why is soil not treated better than the other resources? I will posit two opinions in support of this question, which may further convince readers of its relevance.
Firstly, most of us use the terms soil and land interchangeably, hence, inadvertently we assume that land legislation should satisfy soil requirements. Succinctly it is implied that land owners have rights to soil ownership and hence management, which may exclude the state from management except where lands are state owned. The consequences of this premise can be disastrous. Similar to water, air, forests, biodiversity and minerals, soils represent a resource that belongs to all citizens and must be treated in a manner to ensure everyone benefits from the range of ecosystem services it provides. This approach has been adopted for the previously mentioned natural resources which have a more direct link to humans, with the advent of several national policies.
Further, I will present an assessment of this distinction using Trinidad and Tobago as an example. I also reflect on the ‘bastard’ status that our soils presently endure. Just before getting into that discussion, the second point supporting the need for greater prominence to soil deals with its role in the environment and the intricate relationship with other spheres (Figure 1). Soils reside at the centre of our environment, connecting all its natural elements. With such a role it is difficult yet easy to understand how and why it seems to be the only natural resource not explicitly protected by law.
 With respect to Trinidad and Tobago, the National Environmental Policy (NEP, 2009) provides the broadest framework covering resource management and guides many of the more specific policies. It focuses on sustainable use of environmental assets towards economic development and is enforced under the Environmental Management Act (EMA, 2000). Many environmental assets are specifically mentioned within the policy including water, air, biodiversity, and land, but mention is not made of soil.
The latter is probably subsumed as previously postulated under land. This lack of designation is echoed in the only regulation to highlight soils, the Draft National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation (NAP, 2006). Section 33.9 indicates that soils are not managed and protected effectively as a non-renewable resource, with ever increasing demand and pressure coming from all productive and socio-economic sectors.
The reality remains that in the local context, soil is the least discussed and most ignored of all natural resources. To date, there has not been any specific policy direction focusing on the protection and management of soils resources, nor is there a framework in place for their monitoring and assessment. The somewhat unrecognised, almost hidden role of soil resources and the potential consequences of mismanagement have spawned the institutionalisation of the UN International Panel on Soils (IPS), which aims to correct the perception that our soils are forever resilient.
Policy is needed as suggested by the NAP for managing soils and to ensure that there are arable soils for agriculture. The NAP stresses that there is no cadastre on degraded soils while information on soil types and soil erosion processes is sporadic and greater than 40 years old. Efforts are required to address these deficiencies and bring soil to a similar level of prominence as that bestowed on other non-renewable resources.
This is also critical as the country moves towards mitigating and adapting to climate change and variability. Section 9.3 of the Climate Change Policy (CCP, 2011) requires the assessment of sectoral vulnerability to climate change, but does not specify soil as a component of the natural environment. I mention this in the context that globally soils have been recognised as one of the largest carbon pools and complementary sinks for atmospheric CO2. Notably it is our management of this resource that determines the efficiency and effectiveness of the latter.
The National Spatial Development Strategy (NSDS, 2013) a sustainable development policy tool provides a refreshing, distinct, geospatial policy framework addressing land resources. It incorporates and builds on the NEP, CCP and the NAP, targeting strategic sustainable development through integrated planning. Policy 13 addresses the sustainable use of natural resources, but similarly fails to recognise soil as a significant resource.
While one may question the emphasis on legal instruments, the GSP identified five pillars for sustainable soil management. Pillar two seeks to encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education, awareness and extension in soil. The recently ratified Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management (VGSSM) identifies regulatory support as a critical component and further as a pre-requisite to effective management strategies.
As a country and region we may be aware of the importance of our soils, but we require more than awareness to guarantee continued use and enjoyment of this resource. We require action through legislation. It is clear at least to me that we have championed the battle for the other natural resources, stories told and action taken. I challenge you, support our soils, speak for our soils and refrain from treating it like dirt.
Dr Gaius Eudoxie is a lecturer in Soil Science at the Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture |
