Abstract
The primary aim of this study is to draw attention to the importance of legal problems of soil protection. The basis for my study is the ombudsman’s 2016 principle of soil protection. This resolution summarizes the most pressing soil protection measures in 15 points that need to be taken as soon as possible to preserve soil resources. To narrow the wide range of topics, I will examine three points: (1) preservation of soil resources, (2) soil sealing, (3) brownfield instead of greenfield. Hungary is in a special position concerning this most ancient natural resource, as only 11% of all the land covered area of Earth consists of soil, the EU average is less than 30%, while in Hungary it is more than 60%. Despite the existing protective legal requirements, soil degradation is a constant issue. The persistence of population growth spells the need for more arable land, but as a result of the stressful impacts caused by people we are running out of useable topsoil.
 Assessing both the short and long term process of land reclamation, it can be stated that more and more farmland becomes permanently and imperviously covered for other purposes each year, and as the arable land area decreases, the impervious surface area grows despite all respective decisions, regulations and prohibitions.
Highlights
According to the UN's latest estimate nearly 7.6 billion people live on Earth today
In Hungary a significant decrease in the agricultural area has been observed in recent decades, while the area extracted from cultivation has increased
Agricultural areas are at risk of degradation in their natural state, but final extraction from cultivation, meaning its cover by impervious surfaces brings about the physical destruction of the soil (Posta 2002)
Summary
According to the UN's latest estimate nearly 7.6 billion people live on Earth today. At the present pace of population growth the world population will reach 9.8 billion by 2050 (KSH 2017). According to John Crawford our planet loses 75 billion tons of soil per year, 80 percent of all soil gets damaged, and this trend may lead to the disappearance of arable land in 50–60 years (Crawford 2012). It is estimated that with today's intensive farming, an average area of 0.2 hectares of land can provide food for one man (FAO 2017). In Hungary a significant decrease in the agricultural area has been observed in recent decades, while the area extracted from cultivation (e.g. settlements, industrial facilities, roads, and areas for waste disposal) has increased. The rate of this process is lower, but it is still ongoing (Németh and Várallyay 2015). Destroyed soil cannot be re-created by soil recovery methods, these soils can no longer be subjected to agricultural cultivation (Megyes 2006)
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