It is often underestimated and regarded as little more than something to walk on, yet soil is vital to our existence: it provides us with food, fuel, fibres and medicinal products. It is also indispensable for the survival of biodiversity and ecosystems, it is the largest terrestrial carbon reservoir, it stores and filters water, and it helps us cope with floods and droughts thanks to its natural resilience.

The disappearance of soil in South America

Currently more than 68 per cent of soil in South America is threatened by erosion, one hundred million hectares of land have been damaged by deforestation, while seventy million hectares have been over-exploited. Desertification, for example, afflicts 55 per cent of Brazil's north-eastern region and has serious repercussions on the main food crops for human consumption, such as maize and beans. In Argentina, Mexico and Paraguay, more than half the territory suffers from problems related to soil degradation and desertification. In Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, between 27 and 43 per cent of the territory has to contend with desertification. The situation in Bolivia is particularly severe, where six million people — 77 per cent of the population — live in degraded areas.

Central America fares no better

The situation is not much brighter in Central America: according to the Atlante del suolo di Sud America e Caraibi of 2014, erosion afflicts 75 per cent of the land in El Salvador, while in Guatemala 12 per cent is threatened by desertification.

Food security at risk

The Fao, the United Nations organisation for food and agriculture, points out that up to 95 per cent of the food consumed worldwide comes from the soil and that approximately 33 per cent of land globally is degraded. According to Fao, there is a close link between poverty, desertification and land degradation.

How to combat desertification and erosion

To raise awareness among governments and the public about the problem of soil degradation, 17 June marks the Giornata mondiale per la lotta alla desertificazione, established by the United Nations. The main causes of the problem are deforestation, overuse of soil and resources, drought and climate change. Concrete and immediate measures are needed to reverse this worrying trend; the first step consists of drawing up an up-to-date map of land degradation, with the aim of designing and implementing strategic measures for adapting to climate change.

Forests against deserts

Reforestation, carried out by planting native species, is the best weapon for halting desertification. At the same time, measures to protect the remaining forests must be strengthened. Equally important is the proper agricultural management of soils, avoiding recourse to poor practices that favour short-term results while placing great pressure on the land. According to Fao, the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices would make it possible to produce 58 per cent more food, while also protecting the soil for future generations.