International Forest Regulation: Model for International Soil Governance

Abstract

This chapter wants to introduce an additional perspective to the discussion on how to regulate soils by an international treaty. Well comparable to the concern of forests and international forest governance, the discussions within the framework of international soil governance largely center around the creation of a single stand-alone international instrument—may it be legally binding or not, within or outside the framework of an existing convention. Against the background of the developments within international forest governance over the last four decades and the evolution of what has been referred to as the international forest regime, a change of the approach to the international regulation of concerns like forests and soils seems appropriate. The example of forests in international law and policy indicates that options for more concerted—coordinated—approaches of the existing regime infrastructure need to be realized to achieve the sustainability goals required for human well-being today and for future generations.