http://www.fao.org/globalsoilpartnership This presentation was made during the Asian Soil Partnership workshop that took place in Bangkok, Thailand 13-15 May 2015. This presentation was made by Ronald Vargas, and it presents the Global Soil Partnership. ©FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. The Global Soil
Partnership

3. Soil is a common good!

5. of our food comes
from soils

6. but our soils are in
danger…
today 2050
of our
global
soils are
degraded
and we need to
increase production
(quality and quantity)

7. - Soil erosion
- Nutrient depletion
- Loss of organic carbon
- Soil sealing
- Soil salinity
- Acidification

8. Soil sealing or land take
Land use change ---- main driver

9. sustainable soil management

11. - A vacuum on Soil governance at global level
- Soil Investment far too low.
- Soil degradation, a continuous serious threat.
- Outdated soil information at global and regional levels.
- Weakening of national soil institutions.
- Poor knowledge and appreciation of soil functions for life.
- Gap on targeted soil research.
Overview of Soils by 2011

12. Response from FAO and its members
An Agenda for
Action

14. Partners
400 partners: FAO members and other partners
(universities, NGOs, etc)

15. Focal Points
Second GSP Plenary Assembly endorsed the nomination of focal points by FAO
Members.
Currently 108
countries
nominated their
focal points

16. Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils

17. GSP Pillars of Action
1. Promote sustainable management of soil resources and improved global governance for soil
protection and sustainable productivity;
2. Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education, awareness and extension in soils;
3. Promote targeted soil research and development focusing on identified gaps, priorities and
synergies among economic/productive, environmental and social dimensions;
4. Enhance the quality and availability of soil data and
information: collection, analysis, validation, reporting,
monitoring, integration with other disciplines;
5. Harmonization of methods, measurements and indicators for
the sustainable management and protection of soil resources.

18. Way forward of Plans of Action
As per the Guidelines for Plans of Action of the Rules of Procedure.
Organization of
International
workshops
Establishment of
global Working
Groups
Preparation of
Draft Plans of
Action
Review and
endorsement by
ITPS
Endorsement by
Plenary
Assembly
Implementation through
Implementation Plans at
Regional levels
RSP working on this now

19. Plans of Action
• Pillar 1: endorsed and implementation plans at regional level.
• Pillar 2: endorsed and implementation plans at regional level.
• Pillar 3: just endorsed by ITPS and consideration by PA in June.
• Pillar 4: endorsed and Global implementation plan under finalization.
• Pillar 5: endorsed and global implementation plan under preparation.

20. Way forward Pillar 4 Plan of Action
Global Soil Information System
 Global grids of soil functional properties
 Global map of soil types
 Global soil profile database
Global Soil Monitoring System: SoilSTAT
 flexible design
 gradual implementation
 will fill the gap in the FAOSTAT family
Synthesis, forecasting, interpretation and capacity development
 regular reports on “Status of World Soil Resources Report”
starting in 2015.
 supply of information to global reporting mechanisms
 diverse information products available online
 continuous capacity development programme

21. Regional Soil Partnerships

22. Asian Soil Partnership
• Launched in February 2012 through a project for developing the Asian Soil Information System
Phase I (converting soil information for HWSD). The project consisted on capacity development
and participation was very positive. Project activities ended in December 2014.
• Nanjing Communiqué and Tsukuba Statement were prepared where the Institute of Soil
Science-Chinese Academy of Sciences is the provisional Secretary.
• A meeting of the ASP was held in Bogor, Indonesia during the ESAFS soil congress.
• Agreement to establish their Steering Committee during the World Soil Congress was planned
but not implemented.

24. - Main decision making body.
- Third Plenary Assembly 22-24 June 2015 at FAO
- Agenda items:
Plenary Assembly

25. - Updated World Soil Charter (just endorsed by 150 FAO Council)
- Establishment of Regional Soil Partnerships (all regions)
- Support to develop capacities on soils in the various regions
- Establishment of the Healthy Soils Facility
- Advocacy for inclusion of soils in the SDG
- Preparation of the Status of World Soil Resources Report
- Important work of the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils
- World Soil Day and International Year of Soils 2015
Main Achievements

26. The GSP has promoted the World Soil Day and International
Year of Soils 2015, and members (under the leadership of
Thailand) have supported it during the 68th UNGA.
GSP and Awareness raising

28. Beyond 2015

29. HEALTHY SOILS FACILITY
PGM/MUL/2014-2018/GSP
• Umbrella programme/Facility was already established in 2014.
• A programmatic budget of USD64 mil and 5 years of implementation
period;
• Current Resource partners: European Commission (1,3 million USD),
Thailand (100,000 USD), Switzerland (100,000USD) and International
Fertilizers Association(58,00USD).
• Potential future contribution under discussions

30. COMPONENTS OF THE FACILITY

31. THIS CONSULTATION WORKSHOP
• Consolidate it with the presence of focal points and active involvement;
• Establish a steering committee (with a chair) and if possible ASP
Secretariat.;
• Establish working groups per GSP Pillar;
• Agree on the development of a Regional Implementation Plan.
• Celebrate IYS

32. THANK YOU!
Soils are in the agenda again…..
The key is to keep the momentum and increase investment on sustainable soil
management beyond 2015!
We are committed to that!