Advancing efforts to improve soil health and biodiversity in Europe

The meeting, which marked the 42-month milestone of the SOILGUARD project, brought together experts from scientific research, universities, the private sector, the European Landowners Organization, and IUCN. This technical meeting focused on discussing the results and outputs of the project, which are set to be delivered in 2025. These include guidelines for policymakers, landowners, and other stakeholders on good practices to promote soil health and biodiversity conservation. 

One of the key outputs of the project is the Soil Biodiversity and Wellbeing Framework, which aims to become a global standard for future assessments of soil biodiversity status. It is a pioneering tool that offers a holistic approach to understanding the complex relationships between soil biodiversity, land management, and human wellbeing. The framework highlights soil biodiversity's contribution to soil multifunctionality, ecosystem services, and human wellbeing, underscoring its critical role in supporting sustainable land management practices. 

During the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) 11th Plenary, the SOILGUARD project was recognized by the European Research Council (ERC), the European Research Executive Agency (REA), and the Directorate General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) as one of the 14 most significant European projects addressing the biodiversity nexus. Furthermore, it was distinguished as one of the top three initiatives specifically focusing on biodiversity in agroecosystems, showcasing its importance in advancing sustainable solutions for soil health. 

Soil biodiversity as Nature-based Solutions 

IUCN plays a central role in the partnership by assessing on-the-ground Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) practices implemented in nine different regions of the project. This assessment, conducted following the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, evaluates the impact of these practices on soil biodiversity and biota. The findings provide critical insights into the extent to which well-managed SSM practices promote soil biodiversity and ecosystem resilience as well as human well-being. Based on these assessments, IUCN has developed some recommendations to better integrate those practices and interventions where soil biodiversity acts as a Nature-based Solution, offering practical tools to enhance soil multifunctionality. 

The SOILGUARD project, funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 Research & Innovation programme, has demonstrated through the 10 case studies the effectiveness of its tools and practices in improving agricultural productivity, enhancing carbon sequestration, and restoring degraded ecosystems. Soil health remains critical not only for food production but also as a cornerstone of ecosystem resilience and biodiversity conservation. 

The event in Malaga served as an important step for fostering partnerships, advancing research, identifying key messages and aligning efforts to ensure actionable results to address soil degradation and providing stakeholders with tangible solutions for a sustainable future. 

For more updates on the SOILGUARD project and its impactful work in soil preservation, visit the project website: https://soilguard-h2020.eu/ 

Other related links: 

IUCN Publication: Sustainable agriculture and Nature-based Solutions 

Nature-based Solutions for Soil Management project, NBSOIL project 

Foster Agroecological transition in North Africa, NATAE project 

Awakening Soil Curiosity to Catalyse Soil Literacy, CURIOSOIL project