Stakeholders Commit Action Vs. Soil Degradation

(PNA) — Soil degradation or decline in soil quality is increasingly plaguing the country, prompting stakeholders concerned to work towards establishing the Soil Health Alliance (SHA) for addressing this environmental problem.

On Monday, they signed in Metro Manila a statement of commitment to help address such problem so quality of the country’s soil can improve for better food production and climate change mitigation.

The signing ceremony highlighted the Philippine launch of the 2015 International Year of Soils (IYS).

IYS carries the theme ‘Healthy soils for a healthy life.’

“We’ll increase our support in implementation of soil-related programs from all sectors and formulation of institutional mechanisms for establishment of SHA,” they said in the statement.

They also committed participating in IYS activities “to achieve full recognition of the prominent contributions of healthy soil to food and nutrition security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, essential ecosystem services, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.”

Former International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics Director-General Dr. William Dar was among experts who committed to support establishment of SHA.

“Some 38 percent of our soil is degraded already,” he said on the signing ceremony’s side.

Bureau of Soils and Water Management Director Dr. Silvino Tejada noted such soil covers around 11.2 million hectares of land in the country.

“Our soil is already crying SOS,” he said at the event.

Aside from providing the basis for food production, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said soil “is important for mitigating climate change and its management can support human adaptation efforts.”

Experts said trees and other plants not only thrive in healthy soil but store carbon as well.

Having more trees and plants mean more carbon storage so there’s lesser carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere, they noted.

They identified CO2 as among greenhouse gases that accumulate and trap heat in the atmosphere, causing temperature rise that drives climate change.

Among causes of soil degradation or declining quality of soil in the country are deforestation, unsustainable land use and management, pollution and incorrect agricultural practices like excessive use of fertilizers, experts continued.

“Our soil is no longer healthy,” said Tejada, who’s also supporting SHA’s establishment.

He noted the government already commenced mapping health of soil nationwide so appropriate interventions for rejuvenating this natural resource can be undertaken.

Dar agreed and said interventions for addressing soil degradation must be location-specific.

He said the government must prioritize degraded soil for rejuvenation since almost nothing can be grown in it anymore.

“Rejuvenation will take years because what’s lacking — like micro-nutrients — must be addressed,” he said.

Balanced fertilization is among interventions that’ll help restore soil’s health, he added. (PNA) SCS/CJT/SGP