http://www.fao.org/globalsoilpartnership/en/ This presentation was presented during the 4th Plenary Assembly of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) that took place at FAO headquarters 23-25 May 2016. The presentation was made by Ronald Vargas and presents. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Ronald Vargas
Secretary GSP

2. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT
VGSSM as a tool to
facilitate
implementation of the
revised World Soil
Charter

3. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT
Outline of the VGSSM
• They are of voluntary nature and are not legally binding;
• They elaborate the principles outlined in the revised World Soil Charter;
• They take into account the evidence provided in the SWSR;
• They address technical aspects of SSM (also key challenges and potential
solutions to address them);
• Although initial focus was on agriculture, it was broadened to address
ecosystem services provided by soils.

4. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT
“Zero” order draft (ITPS)
Open Ended Working
Group (OEWG)
Plenary Assembly
For endorsement
First order draft
Implementation
at all levels
ITPS
Regional Soil Partnerships workshops
in 2015: needs and priorities for SSM
COAG
FAO Council

5. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

6. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT
Objectives
To present generally accepted, practically proven and
scientifically based principles to promote SSM and to
provide guidance to all stakeholders on how to translate
these principles into practice, be it for farming, pastoralism,
forestry or more general natural resources management.

7. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT
The guidelines are not expected to provide detailed
recommendations, but are designed to inform
strategic and context-specific decision-making at all
relevant levels.
They are intended to contribute to global, regional
and national efforts towards the eradication of
hunger and poverty due to the importance of soils
in sustainable development.

8. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

9. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT
The potential target audience of the VGSSM includes:
government officials, policy makers, farmers, pastoralists,
forest and land managers, extension services and
agricultural advisors, development partners, civil society,
private sector, academia, etc.

10. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT

11. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT
VGSSM Implementation
Implementation at national level is up to the national
institutions.
The Secretariat will however develop tools for facilitating
the implementation in direct connection with the GSP
Pillars.

12. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT
• Cuts across all 5 GSP Pillars
• but especially Pillar 1
Pillar 1
SSM
1. Sustainable soil
management
implementation
Identify site-specific
priorities, systems and
practices
VGSSM Implementation

13. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT
• Elaborate on technical details by developing technical
manuals to address 10 major soil threats

14. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT
• Ways to advocate the use of the VGSSM
Pillar 2
Public
Awareness
Education
Policy
Technical
Cooperation
Investment
Extension

15. VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT