Soil issues are receiving serious consideration

Because of the systemic connections between soils and many other issues, the attention that is actually paid to soil issues is far greater than is immediately apparent. As this edition of the International Journal of Rural Law and Policy is reaching finalisation, numerous events are being held around the world as part of the 2015 'Year of Soils'. At many of these events, experts will point to the 'soil crisis', highlighting the march of desertification, the loss of soil to urbanisation, deterioration in the fertility of agricultural landscapes, soil contamination, and many other serious problems. Statements like the one below will abound.