Food security and the conservation of natural resources are two key objectives of German and Swiss development cooperation. Soil forms a bridge between these objectives as is it the natural resource which provides the basis for food production. Unless soil productivity is maintained, it will not be possible to guarantee sustainable food security for a growing world population. At the same time, soils play an important role in maintaining biodiversity and protecting the climate.
Protecting soils is thus not only in the interests of crop and livestock farmers, but also of society as a whole. In spite of this, soils are being degraded around the globe through inappropriate use or lost through settlements and infrastructure development. This brochure identifies the scale and causes of soil degradation. It also shows that despite the complexity of the theme, there are promising strategies to protect soil resources, and that these strategies are also being successfully implemented in development cooperation.
The brochure is designed primarily for development organizations, but also for the public interested in development issues. It emphasises that the protection and sustainable management of soils is crucial not only for crop farmers, animal producers and foresters, but also for all of us. One particular target group of this brochure are experts in the fields of rural development, and agricultural and economic policy. They have to accept that land owners, crop farmers and pastoralists will only invest in long-term soil conservation if they are able to profit from these investments. This requires guaranteed use rights, access to markets and credits, and attractive producer prices. In brief, it requires conducive economic conditions and appropriate institutional support. A further significant requirement is that land users be enabled to articulate their aims and communicate their needs, in order to facilitate dialogue and a reconciliation of interests between actors at various decision-making levels.
Section for Agriculture, Fisheries, Agricultural Research, Rural Development and Anti-drugs Measures
German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Paul Egger, Agriculture Division, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Petra Mutlu, Division for Rural Development, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH
Acknowledgements[edit | edit source]
Soil - A Foundation for Sustainable Development
DIREKTION FUR ENTWICKLUNG UND ZUSAMMENARBEIT DEZA
- Published by: Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), GmbH, Postfach 5180, D-65726 Eschborn, Germany, Division 45, Rural Development
- Content and editing: Sustainable Soil Management Project, Dr. Kurt G. Steiner
- Concept: GeoneX, Martin Moll
- Text: Martin Moll, Kurt G. Steiner, Karl Herweg
- English translation: John Cochrane
- Layout: Dominique Vernier
- Photos: GTZ, Martin Moll, Kurt Steiner; Christoph Berg, CIP, Paul Egger, ESA/Keystone, Karl Herweg, Manfried Kriegl, Bernd Neugebauer, Tages Anzeiger
- Printed by: Typo-Druck, D 64380 Rodorf
