Ronald Vargas

The Global Soil Partnership

Soil is a common good!

of our food comes from soils

but our soils are in danger…

today 2050

of our global soils are degraded

and we need to increase production

(quality and quantity)

- Soil erosion

- Nutrient depletion

- Loss of organic carbon

- Soil sealing

- Soil salinity

- Acidification

Soil sealing or land take

Land use change ---- main driver

sustainable soil management

- A vacuum on Soil governance at global level

- Soil Investment far too low.

- Soil degradation, a continuous serious threat.

- Outdated soil information at global and regional levels. - Weakening of national soil institutions.

- Poor knowledge and appreciation of soil functions for life. - Gap on targeted soil research.

Overview of Soils by 2011

Response from FAO and its members

An Agenda for Action

Partners

450 partners: FAO members and other partners (universities, NGOs, etc)

Focal Points Second GSP Plenary Assembly endorsed the nomination of focal points by FAO Members.

Currently 125 countries

nominated their focal points

Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils

Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils

Call for Experts 20th May

GSP Pillars of Action 1. Promote sustainable management of soil resources and improved global governance for soil

protection and sustainable productivity;

2. Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education, awareness and extension in soils;

3. Promote targeted soil research and development focusing on identified gaps, priorities and synergies among economic/productive, environmental and social dimensions;

4. Enhance the quality and availability of soil data and information: collection, analysis, validation, reporting, monitoring, integration with other disciplines;

5. Harmonization of methods, measurements and indicators for the sustainable management and protection of soil resources.

Way forward of Plans of Action

As per the Guidelines for Plans of Action of the Rules of Procedure.

Organization of International workshops

Establishment of global Working Groups

Preparation of Draft Plans of Action

Review and endorsement by ITPS

Endorsement by Plenary Assembly

Implementation through Implementation Plans at Regional levels

RSP working on this now

Plans of Action

• Pillar 1: endorsed and implementation plans at regional level. • Pillar 2: endorsed and implementation plans at regional level. • Pillar 3: just endorsed by ITPS and consideration by PA in June. • Pillar 4: endorsed and Global implementation plan under finalization. • Pillar 5: endorsed and global implementation plan under preparation.

Way forward Pillar 4 Plan of Action Global Soil Information System

Global grids of soil functional properties Global map of soil types Global soil profile database

Global Soil Monitoring System: SoilSTAT flexible design gradual implementation will fill the gap in the FAOSTAT family

Synthesis, forecasting, interpretation and capacity development regular reports on “Status of World Soil Resources Report”

starting in 2015. supply of information to global reporting mechanisms diverse information products available online continuous capacity development programme

Regional Soil Partnerships

African Soil Partnership • Launch workshops took place in Accra, January 2013 (for West and Central Africa) and in

Nairobi , March 2013 (for Eastern and Southern Africa). • A report of the workshop was prepared by participants including general info on the status of

soil resources in the different countries and their priorities for action. • Workshop participants requested to perform an assessment of Abuja declaration and work

towards Abuja II, still ongoing. • National soil institutions, requested capacity development on Digital Soil Mapping for Africa. • Process for developing the Regional Implementation Plan started.

African Soil Partnership • A programme on Digital Soil Mapping for Africa was implemented from October 2014 till March

2015. Representatives from 40 countries participated.

- Main decision making body.

- Third Plenary Assembly 22-24 June 2015 at FAO

- Agenda items:

Plenary Assembly

- Updated World Soil Charter (just endorsed by 150 FAO Council)

- Establishment of Regional Soil Partnerships (all regions)

- Support to develop capacities on soils in the various regions

- Establishment of the Healthy Soils Facility

- Advocacy for inclusion of soils in the SDG

- Preparation of the Status of World Soil Resources Report

- Important work of the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils

- World Soil Day and International Year of Soils 2015

Main Achievements

The GSP has promoted the World Soil Day and International Year of Soils 2015, and members (under the leadership of Thailand) have supported it during the 68th UNGA.

GSP and Awareness raising

Beyond 2015

HEALTHY SOILS FACILITY

PGM/MUL/2014-2018/GSP

• Umbrella programme/Facility was already established in 2014.

• A programmatic budget of USD64 mil and 5 years of implementation period;

• Current Resource partners: European Commission (1,3 million USD), Thailand (100,000 USD), Switzerland (100,000USD) and International Fertilizers Association(58,00USD).

• Potential future contribution under discussions

COMPONENTS OF THE FACILITY

THIS CONSULTATION WORKSHOP • Consolidate it with the presence of focal points and active involvement;

• Establish a steering committee (with a chair) and if possible AfSP Secretariat;

• Establish working groups per GSP Pillars;

• Agree on the development of a Regional Implementation Plan.

• Agree on celebration of IYS • Discuss about the potential implementation of an Abuja Inter-ministerial meeting to

re-launch Abuja declaration from Fertilizers to Soil Health.

THANK YOU!

Soils are in the agenda again…..

The key is to keep the momentum and increase investment on sustainable soil management beyond 2015!

We are committed to that!