Integrating soil management and biodiversity conservation

Soil protection by maintenance of biological diversity can preserve the productive capacity of the soil, prevent landslides, safeguard coastlines and riverbanks, and prevent the degradation of coral reefs and riverine and coastal fisheries by siltation.

Biological diversity helps in the formation and maintenance of soil structure and the retention of moisture and nutrient levels. The loss of biological diversity through clearing of vegetation has contributed to the salinisation of soils, leaching of nutrients, laterisation of minerals and accelerated erosion of topsoil, reducing the land's productivity. Trees and vegetation assist in soil formation through the introduction of organic matter through litter formation and the decay and regeneration of tiny fibrous roots, both of which facilitate microbial activity.

1. Integrating biodiversity conservation strategies
2. Integrating agrobiodiversity conservation with environmental and agricultural strategies
3. Improving soil management
4. Creating synergies between biodiversity and other development strategies

1. Using stress-tolerant plant materials for rehabilitating land
2. Using appropriate soil additives
3. Remineralizing soil
4. Reclaiming land
5. Promoting conservation tillage
6. Integrating sources of plant nutrients to sustain soil fertility
7. Growing soil conserving plants
8. Avoiding destruction of soil fauna and micro-organisms

1. Restoring biodiversity in agriculture

1. Investigating biodiversity loss through desertification
2. Encouraging soil conservation
3. Bioengineering for natural resource conservation
4. Assessing role of species loss in global life-support system

1. Depleting soils
2. Abstaining from soil conservation

1. Stewarding fertile soil formation

1. Soil degradation
2. Lack of integrated management of biodiversity