Legal frameworks for soil protection: current development and technical information requirements

Abstract

► Development of global, continental and national legal frameworks for soil protection remains limited. ► Reliable technical evidence is needed to inform soil protection regulation and interventions. ► Soil monitoring methods need application and enhancement. ► Quantitative estimation of the spatial risk of soil degradation is essential and needs development. ► More data are needed on the efficacy of soil management tools. Protection of soil resources is a priority for policy makers concerned with future food security and biodiversity conservation. Current global, continental and national progress with legal frameworks and supporting technical information is reviewed. Better soil monitoring information is needed to support new investment in, targeting of, and evaluation of soil protection measures. Some but not all soil monitoring methods are adequate. Spatial risk estimation is essential for assessing the economic costs and benefits of soil protection and to target risk mitigation. However, while qualitative vulnerability assessments are available, substantial challenges remain to support quantitative risk assessment and evaluation. More reliable information is required about the efficacy of options for soil protection for different soils under different land use and management scenarios.