The United Nations (UN) has declared Year 2015 as the International Year of Soils (IYS).
The 2015 International Year of Soils (IYS) aims to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions.
The objectives of this year include raising full awareness among civil society and decision makers about the profound importance of soil for human life, educating the public about the crucial role soil plays in food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, essential ecosystem services, poverty alleviation and sustainable development and supporting effective policies and actions for the sustainable management and protection of soil resources.
"Soils host at least one quarter of the world’s biodiversity. They are a key in the carbon cycle. They help us to mitigate and adapt to climate change. They play a role in water management and in improving resilience to floods and droughts." - José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General
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