Tracking the conservation status of soil-dependent species through IUCN Red List assessments to better understand the health status of soils.
Established in 1964, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species. The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Far more than a list of species and their status, it is a powerful tool to inform and catalyse action for biodiversity conservation.
Good levels of biodiversity above and below ground on agricultural land not only provides ecosystem services but also increases the resilience of agroecosystems. Agricultural biodiversity has been found to strengthen the resilience of agroecosystems to climate change, but widespread intensive agricultural practices, such as monocultures or the excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers, have been recognised as key drivers of biodiversity loss.
Understanding the conservation status of soil biodiversity, the life that maintains soil health, can support the journey towards truly sustainable agricultural systems. Maintaining the diversity of soil life, and the myriad biotic and abiotic interactions, enables nutritionally richer soil to be generated, improving most crop growth. This paper from Soils For Europe, co-authored by IUCN, gives an overview of the current state of knowledge on nature conservation of soil biodiversity and presents a roadmap with recommendations for addressing the knowledge gaps it identifies:
Outlook on the knowledge gaps to improve nature conservation of soil biodiversity
Tracking the conservation status of soil-dependent species through IUCN Red List assessments allows us to better understand the status of soils, most especially where key species groups such as fungi and invertebrates are monitored. Using these data, IUCN plans to develop a Red List Index for soil species in the future.
