Abstract
Soil forms the outer skin of the earth's land surface. Often less than a metre in depth, it is essential to sustain natural terrestrial ecosystems and human life. Soils result from the interactions over time between climate, parent material, topography, vegetation, and biota. They vary from place to place. Mineral soils are composed of mineral matter, organic matter, and gas- or liquid-filled pores in varying proportions. Soils perform a wide range of functions and provide many ecosystem or environmental services; with the climate problem, the soil is increasingly being recognised as a potential sink for carbon from the atmosphere. In part because of humankind's (over)use of soils and in part because of natural and human-induced environmental change, there is a widespread decline in soil quality and an increasing number of threats to soil, which jeopardise both the soil's natural functions and its use by humans. As a limited resource, soils must be used sustainably. Soil protection strategies have been indirectly embodied in a number of United Nations conventions, and there are now national and supranational developments towards specific regulations and legislation to protect soils and their functions.
Highlights
GAIA publishes a maximum of two focus sections per year
These focus sections appear within regular GAIA issues
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Summary
GAIA publishes a maximum of two focus sections per year. These focus sections appear within regular GAIA issues. They are published through the collaboration of both GAIA editors and guest editors.1 Additional expenses to cover editorial and production services will be borne by the guest editor(s). Layout, typesetting and printing of additional pages, where applicable Distribution of print copies (1.600 copies) and ensuring online availability to all subscribers through www.ingentaconnect.com/content/oekom/gaia/
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