Land: Soil
Background: soil functions
Soil is a fundamental and irreplaceable natural resource, providing the essential link between the components that make up our environment. Soils are hugely variable from region to region and even from field to field, and they perform a number of functions:
- Food and fibre production
- Environmental interaction (between soils, air and water)
- Support of ecological habitats and biodiversity
- Protection of cultural heritage
- Providing a platform for construction
- Providing raw materials
Some soil functions can work together so that benefits arising from a particular soil protection measure may extend beyond the original aim. For example, the conservation of peatlands for their biodiversity and carbon storage interest will also protect their value to the historic environment and vice versa.
However, different soil functions are not always mutually compatible. For example, measures to maintain soil's capacity to produce food and fibre may compromise the conservation of biodiversity or cultural heritage and vice versa.
In summary, sustainable use of the soil resource is important to society because:
- It helps clean the water we drink and the air that we breath - for free!
- Without it we would not be able to feed ourselves as well as we can do now.
So, don't forget it, even though it is everywhere!
Page last modified:
1 September 2005
Page published: 15 March 2005