International Year of Soil
{{Short description|2015 UN theme year}}
The International Year of Soils, 2015 (IYS 2015) was declared by the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly on December 20, 2013, after recognizing December 5 as World Soil Day.{{cite web|last=Lindbo|first=David|title=The International Year of Soils|url=https://www.soils.org/IYS|publisher=Soil Science Society of America|access-date=15 May 2014}}[http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/year-ahead-will-be-a-good-time-to-focus-on-soils-importance-287401571.html "Year ahead will be a good time to focus on soil's importance"]. Winnipeg Free Press.
The purpose of the IYS was to raise awareness worldwide of the importance of soils for food security,{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/GSP/docs/iys/World_Soil_Day_and_International_Year_of_Soils__UNGA_Resolution_Dec._2013.pdf|title=Draft resolution submitted by the Vice-Chair of the Committee, Ms. Farrah Brown (Jamaica), on the basis of informal consultations on draft resolution A/C.2/68/L.21|publisher=United Nations General Assembly|access-date=22 May 2014}} agriculture,[http://www.crestonnewsadvertiser.com/2014/12/09/year-long-salute-to-soil-underscores-need-to-focus-on-its-health/a2rlrcm/ "Year-long salute to soil underscores need to focus on its health"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225054821/http://www.crestonnewsadvertiser.com/2014/12/09/year-long-salute-to-soil-underscores-need-to-focus-on-its-health/a2rlrcm/ |date=2015-02-25 }}. Creston News Advertiser. as well as in mitigation of climate change, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development.[http://www.registerstar.com/columnists/growing_the_land/article_691de5be-8244-11e4-85b5-3bfd9d96fa25.html "Sustainability starts with the soil"]. Register-Star.
World Soil Day
The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) and the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) have invited the public to continue to celebrate World Soil Day on December 5 on an ongoing basis.{{Cite web|url=https://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/5-things-everyone-protect-soil.html|title=5 things everyone can do to protect the planet's soil|last=Breyer|first=Melissa|date=December 4, 2019|website=TreeHugger|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}}
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has implemented the hashtag, #WorldSoilDay, and a campaign "Stop soil erosion, Save our future,"{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/world-soil-day/en/|title=World Soil Day, December 5th|date=2019|website=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|access-date=2019-12-08}} with suggestions for activities by students, farmers, teachers, NGOs and private sector organizations.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/3/ca6637en/ca6637en.pdf|title=Get involved - World Soil Day 2019|date=2019|website=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|access-date=2019-12-08}}
A [http://www.fao.org/world-soil-day/worldwide-events/en/ map of International World Soil Day events] is available online, as well as a [http://www.fao.org/world-soil-day/about-wsd/en/ list of yearly World Soil Day campaigns], a [http://www.fao.org/3/ca6637en/ca6637en.pdf poster with World Soil Day Activities from the FAO], [https://www.soils.org/iys educational materials, and a downloadable coloring book for children].
The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History celebrated World Soil Day 2019 with hands-on activities, and a panel discussion by soil scientists and local farmers.{{Cite web|url=https://lsa.umich.edu/ummnh/news-events/events.detail.html/69744-17415368.html|title=Events|date=2019|website=University of Michigan Museum of Natural History|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08|archive-date=2019-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208163040/https://lsa.umich.edu/ummnh/news-events/events.detail.html/69744-17415368.html|url-status=dead}}
TreeHugger commemorated World Soil Day 2019 with a feature article explaining how soil is "the foundation of ... of green building, the plants that make the materials ... to minimize our upfront carbon emissions."{{Cite web|url=https://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/world-soil-day-look-how-we-should-be-growing-buildings.html|title=On World Soil Day, a look at how we should be growing buildings|website=TreeHugger|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}} Members of the public are urged to commemorate the day with efforts to reduce food waste, eat a diverse diet, compost, read labels on lawn and garden products, and perform soil tests.
International Year of Soils, 2015
The Global Soil Partnership planned a website, logo and activities for The International Year of Soil, and agricultural and environmental organizations around the world held local events to contribute to the special year.[http://www.ottumwacourier.com/news/news_briefs/cedar-creek-partnership-project-supports-international-year-of-soil/article_88b27432-f43e-54c0-b787-54ce571f4414.html "Cedar Creek Partnership Project supports International Year of Soil"]. Otumwa Courier Online.[http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/latest-news/soil-association-goes-back-to-its-roots-with-soil-campaign/67958.article "Soil Association goes back to its roots with soil campaign"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116020259/http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/latest-news/soil-association-goes-back-to-its-roots-with-soil-campaign/67958.article |date=2015-01-16 }}. Farmers Guardian.[http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/articles/2014/tree-planting-launches-international-year-of-soil/ "Tree planting launches international year of Soil"]. Lancaster University.
The United States Department of Agriculture held a kick-off event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2015/01/07/event-usda-ushers-2015-international-year-soils|title=Event at USDA Ushers in 2015 as the International Year of Soils|website=www.usda.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}} Its National Resources Conservation Service commemorated the event with monthly themes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/fl/home/?cid=STELPRDB1264830|title=International Year of Soils|last=USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Florida|access-date=2019-12-08|archive-date=2020-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101084715/https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/fl/home/?cid=STELPRDB1264830|url-status=dead}}
OpenLearn Open University featured its courses on soil.{{Cite web|url=https://www.open.edu/openlearn/whats-on/events/international-year-soils|title=International Year of Soils|website=OpenLearn|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08|archive-date=2019-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208162748/https://www.open.edu/openlearn/whats-on/events/international-year-soils|url-status=dead}}
Kansas State University hosted an event in Manhattan, Kansas to celebrate the International Year of Soils, and kick off the 12th International Phytotechnologies Conference.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2015/09/soils-protect092815.html|title=The International Year of Soils: Soils Protect the Natural Environment|last=Allen|first=Katie|date=September 28, 2015|website=Kansas State University Research and Extension|access-date=2019-12-08}}
Vivekananda College hosted a two-day Vivekananda Science Exhibition to Rural Masses (VISETORM-VIII) for rural schoolchildren.{{Cite web|url=https://www.soils.org/iys/activities-and-events|title=Activities and Events - See what everyone did for IYS!|date=2019|website=Soil Science Society of America|access-date=2019-12-08|archive-date=2019-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208162747/https://www.soils.org/iys/activities-and-events|url-status=dead}}
The 2015 Ethiopia Society of Soils Science (ESSS) Conference chose the theme of "International Year of Soils: Ethiopia Experience". Representatives from the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Ethiopian Society of Soil Science celebrated World Soil Day at the end of conference.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/soils-2015/news/news-detail/en/c/357656/|title=World Soil Day celebrated in Ethiopia|date=2015-05-12|website=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}}
Other events included Sundays with Science lectures at the San Francisco Public Library and University of Nebraska State Museum, exhibits, events for teachers, and a Microbes Are Us Costume Parade by Hawaiian schoolchildren.
The FAO website summarized what individuals could take home from the year as:
- A deep and newfound appreciation for our soils,
- A wealth of information material, and
- Friends, partnerships and linkages,
- as well a personal discovery by one of the organizers:
"On a closing note, just the other day a member of the IYS Steering {{sic|nolink=y|Comit|tee}} told members that he recently found out that soils contain a bacterium called Mycobacterium vaccae, also known as the Golden Bacillus. Apparently, scientists have found that, when ingested or inhaled, this substance reduces anxiety and increases levels of serotonin in the brain, making you happier."{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/soils-2015/news/news-detail/en/c/353737/|title=After the International Year of Soils, we won't take soils for granted anymore|website=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}}
Official closure of the 2015 International Year of Soils (IYS) took place at FAO Headquarters on December 4, 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/soils-2015/news/news-detail/en/c/346537/|title=Official closure of the 2015 International Year of Soils|date=2015-11-30|website=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|language=en|access-date=2019-12-08}}
International Decade of Soils, 2015–2024
The International Union of Soil Scientists has proclaimed 2015–2024 the International Decade of Soils. This is a continuation of the efforts made during the International Year of the Soils 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.soils.org/iys|title=The International Year of Soils|date=2019|website=Soil Science Society of America|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520115620/https://www.soils.org/IYS|archive-date=2014-05-20|access-date=2019-12-08}}
See also
References
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External links
- [http://www.fao.org/3/ca6637en/ca6637en.pdf Poster for World Soil Day Activities from the FAO]
- [https://www.fao.org/world-soil-day/about-wsd/en/ About World Soil Day, from the FAO]
- [https://www.soils.org/iys International Year of Soils Activities Page]
{{UN International Years}}{{Soil science topics}}