14
UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER, 2016
COLUMN
Dr Gaius Eudoxie is a lecturer in Soil Science at the Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture
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 Caricommember 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 resourcemanagement 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 resourcemanagement and guidesmany
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 specificallymentioned
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 fromall productive
and socio-economic sectors.
The reality remains that in the local context, soil is the
least discussed andmost 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.
SOIL -
Our Silent Ally
B Y G A I U S E U D O X I E
Figure 1. Interrelatedness among soil and other natural resources
Most of us use the terms soil
and land interchangeably,
hence, inadvertently we assume
that land legislation should satisfy
soil requirements.
