World Soil Day 2023 – Know the theme and other facts about the valuable day to protect our planet

World Soil Day 2023: Highlights

• World Soil Day 2023 is being celebrated on Tuesday, December 5.
• It was established in the year 2013 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
• Every year, soils around the globe are getting contaminated due to various factors.
• World Soil Day promotes the importance of soil health.

World Soil Day 2023 is on December 5, 2023. It is a UN-recognized initiative that aims to raise awareness about the importance of Soil and its impact on our lives. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shoulders the responsibility of promoting this day and organizing related activities.

In America, organizations like The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) and the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) celebrate this day with a lot of promotional events.

Despite its critical significance, our soil is facing numerous challenges including degradation, erosion, pollution, and loss of biodiversity. By taking part in the World Soil Day celebration, you can let everyone know that we all should protect the soil otherwise it will be too late.

Key Highlights of World Soil Day 2023

Name of the day	World Soil Day
Date	December 5th 2023
Day	Tuesday
Purpose	To raise awareness about the importance of soil health
Date of establishment	December 5, 2014
Established by	United Nations
Theme	Soils: Where food begins

World Soil Day Dates

Year	Date	Day
2023	December 5, 2023	Tuesday
2024	December 5, 2024	Thursday
2025	December 5, 2025	Friday
2026	December 5, 2026	Saturday
2027	December 5, 2027	Sunday

History of World Soil Day

In 2002, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) was the first organization to recommend an international day to celebrate soil. They wanted to show people that soil is not just dirt. But, a valuable resource that we should protect for future generations.

In June 2013, the UN officially requested recognition of this day at the 68th UN General Assembly. They realized the importance of healthy soil for the world to produce food for everyone. The good soil also provides clean water and even helps combat climate change.

In December 2013, the UN General Assembly designated 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.

Every year, World Soil Day has a different theme. This theme helps focus our attention on different aspects of soil. For example, in 2020, the theme was “Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity”. This theme reminded us that soil is alive with many organisms that help it stay healthy.

Celebrations and World Soil Day Activities

Many organizations all over the world encourage people to take part in World Soil Day festivities. I have curated some ideas that can help you make this a memorable one.

1. Plant a seed – Let the planet heal itself. Take a small pot or garden space and plant a seed. You will love to watch this seed grow into a beautiful plant.
2. Explore outdoors – Take a walk into nature and see the soil below your feet. Notice the different colors and textures of the soil. You should also try to notice insects and worms. They also play a vital role in maintaining soil health.
3. Connect with farmers – Farmers are the ones that feed us. You can use World Soil Day as an opportunity to meet them and learn about the problems they face.
4. Make a compost pile – In this way, you can improve the soil health to a great extent. To make a compost pile, you should gather food scraps like fruit peels, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, etc. Then, put them in a pile and mix them with soil.
5. Spread the words – Use #WorldSoilDay to post using your social media accounts. Unfortunately, not many of us know about this day. Posting regarding the same will help spread awareness.

World Soil Day 2023 Theme – Soils: Where Food Begins

The theme of world soil day 2023 is “Soil and Water: A Source of Life”.

Last year, the theme was “Soils: Where food begins”. It highlights how healthy soil helps to produce the food we enjoy. If you are still confused about how our food is related to the soil then let me tell you.

Soil provides a home to plants so that they can grow their roots. It also offers them vital vitamins and minerals they require to be healthy and strong. As the plant grows into a tree it gives us fruits, vegetables, and grains we rely on for nourishment. That’s why it’s essential to take care of our soil.

Various Soil Problems and Measures to fix them

Problems encountered by the soil	Measures to fix them
Soil Erosion	Planting cover crops, using mulch to prevent erosion, implementing contour plowing, and more
Loss of organic matter	Practicing crop rotation, and adding organic compost to the soil.
Soil pollution	Avoid using harmful chemicals, and implement proper waste management techniques.
Loss of soil biodiversity	Promoting crop diversity, minimizing pesticide use, protecting natural habitats, etc.

Some facts about the Soil that you should know

1. We all should protect soil because it is a non-renewable resource. It can take thousands of years to form.
2. 25% of the World’s biodiversity is found in the soil.
3. The color of soil can indicate its fertility and composition.
4. Soil erosion is a major environmental issue. We are losing tons of fertile soil every year due to this.
5. Soil is also a natural water filter. It purifies rainwater as it percolates through different layers of soil.

Check the Details About World Earth Day

Frequently Asked Questions

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